Bhubaneswar, Dec 2: New initiatives like Blue Flag certification to five more beaches across the Odisha coastline besides Puri and ‘glamping’ are expected to provide a boost to tourism in the state, a senior government official has said.

These initiatives were outlined in the Odisha Tourism Policy 2016 and could greatly contribute to the promotion of tourism in the state, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, state’s Director of Tourism, said while addressing the virtual orientation program for new students at the School of Hotel Management (SHM), faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management of the SOA Deemed to be University here on Tuesday.

‘Glamping’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’ and refers to a style of camping with amenities and, in some cases resort style services not usually associated with ‘traditional camping’.

Jadhav said Odisha had immense future in tourism and the state’s potential was least explored. Current tourism trends blending meetings, incentives, conference/conventions and exhibitions/events, known as MICE, should be exploited as the state had great possibilities in this sector, he said.

Tourism contributed ten per cent to the global GDP and has enormous potential for creating employment, he said.

The on-line program, which was presided by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, was also addressed by Aparesh Sinha, Hospitality Advisor, Consultant and Trainer and Prof. (Dr.) Sitikantha Mishra, Advisor-cum-Dean, SHM.

 Sinha congratulated the new students on choosing a career which was glamorous and exciting as it would provide them the opportunity to interact with new people on a daily basis. They must learn the art of conversing with strangers, he said.

He said the hospitality industry created a new job every 2.5 seconds and the students must grab the opportunities by acquiring skills needed to listen to people and developing patience and right attitude. The tourism sector is an ever expanding industry with opportunities thrown up by hotels, hospitals, fine dining restaurants and the aviation sector. The Covid-19 pandemic had also thrown up new opportunities for food safety professionals, Sinha said.

Prof. Mahapatra said SOA, within a short span of 13 years, had grown into a fine university in the eastern region to be ranked 20th in the country by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). He said that universal human values, attitude and temperament were the key ingredients for personal and professional success.

Prof. Mishra briefed about the schedule and induction program which would continue till December 11. Prof. B.B.Pradhan, Registrar, SOA, and Prof. Ashok Mohanty, Professor, Department of Humanities in SOA, attended the program which was coordinated by Sweta Boity, a student of final year BHMCT. Dr. Smita Sucharita Mahapatra, Associate Professor, SHM, proposed the vote of thanks.