The Odisha The government has asked Ministries of Tourism, Forests, Environment and Water Resources to identify more locations for eco-retreats to improve nature tourism activities in the state.

At a high-level meeting on Thursday, Secretary-General Suresh Mahapatra reviewed the current state and future prospects of nature tourism in the state and instructed collectors to identify locations for setting up year-round eco retreats, nature camps, daytime destinations and rivers cruise, boating, jungle safari, wildlife towers in their districts.

Mohapatra said, “Nature tourism is no longer an international tourist activity. Now, more local tourists are visiting the Odisha nature camps. Eco-sites, nature areas and nature camps will create more employment opportunities for local people and help raise their incomes.” .

The proposals to expand eco-tourism activities in Talasari, Konark, Satpada, Chandipur, Debrigarh, Bhitarkanita, Similipal, Daringibadi, Astarang, Satkosia, Tikarpada, Hirakud, Chilika and Nalabana in Odisha were discussed at the meeting.

The secretary-general also instructed to delineate the tourist zones in forest areas, to list the dams, stretches of rivers and bodies of water with good potential for boating, water boats, cruises and houseboat placement.

It was decided to convert the diesel motor boats involved in tourist attractions to CNG mode.

The additional General Secretary for Forests and Environment, Dr. Mona Sharma, was recommended to open nature camps in thirty to forty new locations during the year. It was also decided to invite more private sector investment to make nature tourism activities more competitive and create jobs.

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This story was published by a wire agency feed with no changes to the text.

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