Hoteliers’ body proposes new circuit ‘Splendours of eastern India’

Bhubaneswar, Sep 22:

Aiming to tap the tourism potential of eastern India including the north east, the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has urged the state governments to jointly market the region by creating a new circuit “Splendours of eastern India”.

“The whole of eastern and north-eastern India has so much potential for development of tourism. The region is vastly unexplored. Globally tourism has acquired new dimension and the young travellers are looking for destinations where they experience new cultures and lifestyle,” Sudesh Poddar, president of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) said in a release on Tuesday.

“So, it may be an excellent idea to network and jointly market the region by creating a new circuit Splendours of eastern India.”

He said the region has a large number of places important to Buddhism.

“Tourists who visit Bodh Gaya can cover the entire eastern and north eastern states where there are Buddhist temples and relics. Tourists particularly those from China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar will be delighted to visit these places,” said Poddar.

The FHRAI, an apex body of four regional associations representing the Indian hospitality industry, is holding its three-day golden jubilee convention from September 25 in Bhubaneswar.

This is slated to be one of the biggest events in hospitality and tourism in India.

Odisha tourism has joined FHRAI as partners of the event, said Poddar, who is also chairman (finance committee) of the convention.

The convention’s theme is the much-adored Sanskrit verse “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God).

About 1000 delegates representing the top echelons of the hospitality and tourism industry in India, leading hoteliers and other stakeholders in the industry, are likely to participate.

“It is a proud privilege for FHRAI that for the first time FHRAI convention is being held in a tier-II city in eastern India,” Tejinder Singh Walia, president FHRAI said.

“The thirteen states and a union territory comprising the eastern India have immense tourism potential and we are confident that this event will be a catalyst for the growth of tourism in the region,” Walia added. (IANS)