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Steps afoot to tap tourism potential

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: The government has decided to delegate powers to district-level functionaries to tap tourism potential of the place.

From now on, a district-level committee, headed by Collector, will evaluate general criteria for identification of tourist places such as potential of tourist flow from within and outside the State as well as foreign countries, present infrastructure available and prospective and possible development plan. A fresh set of guidelines in this connection was issued recently. The committee could also be chaired by additional district magistrate or project director of District Rural Development Agency or sub-collector with tourist officer as its convenor.

Members

Besides, representatives from travel trade, hotel industry, local people's representatives, socio-cultural organisations as the collector thinks appropriate will be taken as members of the committee, according to a release issued by the State government.

Officials of other departments such as forest and environment, tourism and culture, works, rural development, health, energy and lead bank officers will be permanent members. Based on the recommendations, the collectors will prepare a report detailing activities and infrastructure at the site along with its sustainability, including remunerative operation and maintenance.

The guidelines emphasised on community ownership and partnership even though the project could be taken up by private sector or public-private-partnership. Once the project report is completed, it will be sent to the Tourism Department which will try to arrange the funding.

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