Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening sustainable tourism, the Odisha government has partnered with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Bhubaneswar, to prepare a comprehensive long-term roadmap titled ‘Odisha Eco-Tourism Vision Document 2036’.
The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department’s wildlife wing and IITTM Bhubaneswar. The initiative aims to provide a structured framework for the planned development, management and promotion of eco-tourism across the state, with conservation remaining at its core.
According to officials, the Vision Document 2036 will lay out a 10-year long-term vision, supported by a five-year medium-term strategy and a three-year short-term action plan. The roadmap will focus on balancing tourism growth with ecological sustainability, community participation and livelihood generation.
As part of the exercise, IITTM will undertake carrying capacity studies of eco-tourism destinations, develop standard assessment criteria, and draft standard operating procedures (SOPs) for eco-tourism management to ensure uniform practices across Odisha’s diverse landscapes.
The institute will also play a key role in capacity building, conducting training programmes for at least 2,500 stakeholders, including eco-tourism guides, project staff and community members associated with eco-tourism initiatives. These efforts are expected to improve service quality while promoting responsible tourism practices.
In addition, IITTM will assist the state in identifying and developing new eco-tourism destinations and contribute to the formulation of a new state eco-tourism policy, aligned with national and global best practices.
Officials said the initiative will help Odisha leverage its rich biodiversity, forests, wetlands and wildlife reserves in a sustainable manner, positioning the state as a leading eco-tourism destination while safeguarding its natural heritage for future generations.
-OdishaAge
