A host of steps are being taken to give a facelift to the tourism sector in Koraput district which is endowed with exotic sites to attract visitors.
“There are breathtaking sites in the district and these can make for a grand tourism package. We have chalked out several measures to put Koraput on the national tourism map,” said district Collector Jaya Kumar V.
These efforts were aimed at attracting tourists to the district and ensuring sustainable income for the tribal community, he said.
The administration recently held a meeting with various stakeholders, including hoteliers, tour operators, guides and officials concerned, to prepare a blueprint on ways to revamp the tourist spots in the district.
The collector said tourism spots in the district had been divided into four zones and the stakeholders were asked to prepare tour packages for their respective zones. “These will be uploaded in the tourism section of the district’s official website,” he said.
An amusement rides would be installed at Kolab reservoir and safe drinking water and rest sheds put up at all tourist spots. This apart, booklets would be published to make people aware of the tourist spots in the district. “To allow tourist a glimpse of tribal life, night stay will be arranged in a tribal village in each zone,” the collector said.
Gupteswar Cave Temple, Duduma Waterfalls, Sabara Srikhetra, Deomali (the highest peak of Odisha) and Maliguda (a small hilltop village where India’s highest broad gauge is located) are the main tourist attractions of the district.
According to official data, 1,169 foreign tourists visited Koraput in 2014-15. Duduma Waterfalls were the main attraction for 638 of them.
