Communal violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district coupled with natural calamities within the Golden Triangle have affected tourism infrastructure resulting in a drop in forex earnings through tourism in the state. Riot-hit Kandhamal, one of the major entry points to the core tribal areas in Orissa, was blocked while floods affected the communication system in some important areas of the state.
Commenting on the effect of political turmoil on tourism revenue, Sasank Rath, Officer on Special Duty, Orissa Tourism said, “Kandhamal is one of the major and most convenient tourist entry points to most of the tribal areas in Orissa. Although we do not boast tribes as our tourism products, the places inhabited by them catch the fancy of foreign travellers. Now we are trying to cash in on some other places as entry points like Koraput, Rayagada and Maskangiri. Phulbari, another important entry point adjacent to Kandhamal, has also been affected, so we refuse to take a chance.” He said the though the Golden Triangle was not much affected by the recent floods, the communication systems and roadways connecting Puri got affected, causing trouble to tourists. |