Bhubaneswar, January 9 (IANS). Eleven important proposals related to various departments were approved in the Odisha Cabinet meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The most important among these was the approval of Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy – 2026, which is being considered as a major reform step towards strengthening the tourism sector of the state.
Under the new policy, many important amendments have been made in the tourism policy for the year 2022. According to the government, the minimum investment requirement for 3-star and above hotels and resorts has been reduced from 50 key rooms to 10 key rooms, which is in line with the standards of the Ministry of Tourism of the Central Government. At the same time, the eligibility limit for expansion of existing tourism units has been reduced from 50 percent to 25 percent, which will make the process of their expansion easier and faster.
The Cabinet has also rationalized the capital investment subsidy framework. Under the revised policy, tourism projects will get capital investment subsidy of up to 30 percent, with a maximum limit of Rs 50 crore for investments up to Rs 200 crore and Rs 100 crore for investments above Rs 200 crore.
Apart from this, the scope of special tourism zones has been expanded to include Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Ratnagiri-Udaygiri-Lalitgiri and Bhitarkanika. The special zones already announced include Chilika, KBK, Kandhamal and Gajapati.
Tourism projects established in these special zones as well as projects run by women, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Divyang entrepreneurs will get enhanced capital investment subsidy framework of up to 40 percent. In this, a maximum limit of Rs 60 crore has been fixed for investment up to Rs 200 crore and a maximum limit of Rs 120 crore for investment above Rs 200 crore.
The government has also decided to provide targeted subsidies for emerging tourism sectors. Under this, up to 40 percent capital assistance will be given to museums and heritage properties, while up to 50 percent capital assistance will be given to electric boats, electric caravans and arts and crafts theme complexes. The revised policy includes special incentives for MICE, destination weddings, luxury camping and electric mobility based tourism products.
–IANS
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