A plan to run direct flight services to Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai was accepted by the Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday, December 27.
Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister, presided over the meeting of the cabinet. According to Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra, IndiGo expressed interest in operating flight services from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok as proposed by the state government.
“Planes having 186 seats will be operated and the expenditure will be borne by the state government. The revenue generated from ticket sales will be retained by the state government.”
According to the most recent travel reservations, internal travel appears to have recovered after COVID-19, but this has not yet been the case for foreign visitors to Odisha. Stakeholders blame the dearth of nonstop international flights to Bhubaneswar for this.
According to a report from the Ministry of Tourism, the state has only witnessed a sparse number of foreign visitors so far this year, and there were just 2,269 of them in contrast to 37.4 lakh domestic arrivals. Interestingly, despite many lockdowns throughout the year, the number of international tourists visiting Odisha in 2020 was 10,206, a higher number than in 2019. The state had received 46.2 lakh domestic tourists that year.
Prior to Covid, the state welcomed 1.15 lakh foreign visitors, and the domestic tourism market saw 1 crore visitors in 2019. The majority of foreign visitors to Odisha during this time—those who choose organised tours—came from Malaysia and Western Europe.
“Of the total bookings for organised tours between October this year and March-end next year, foreign arrivals in Odisha are only 10 per cent. Blame it on the lack of direct international flights. Prior to Covid, we at least had direct flights to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.”
The travel and hospitality sectors were banking on the possibility of direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok (these nations have historically been significant aviation hubs). The above-mentioned three nations were the first in line when the state government issued a Request For Quote (RFQ) two months prior to selecting airlines for a direct route between Bhubaneswar and overseas locations.
Only one airline, Indigo, has expressed interest in running three flights per week, including weekends, and direct flights from Bhubaneswar to the three nations. The proposal from Indigo has been submitted to the state government for review, according to representatives of the transport department.
“For any international flight service, there is a need for continuity. We are hoping that if one airline begins its direct flights from Bhubaneswar to different countries and is provided all the facilities to continue the service, other airlines will follow.”
Foreign travel operators from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and other South Asian nations expressed interest in partnering with the state to promote tourism at the Odisha Travel Bazaar earlier this year, provided there is direct aircraft connectivity.
Also read: Malkangiri airport in southern Odisha is scheduled to open in 2024
International tourism can be resurrected, according to JK Mohanty, Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and IATO (eastern area), if there are direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Bodh Gaya and Thailand, Dubai, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Nepal.
“Because, a lot of international tourists come to Bodh Gaya through Kolkata, Delhi or Mumbai for Buddhist tourism. HRAO also suggests that international flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai can be diverted to Bhubaneswar for lessening the congestion.”
For the time being, Odisha has added three foreign locations to its list. It will expect to improve connectivity to other foreign locations as more tourists arrive.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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A plan to run direct flight services to Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai was accepted by the Odisha Cabinet on Tuesday, December 27.
Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister, presided over the meeting of the cabinet. According to Chief Secretary SC Mohapatra, IndiGo expressed interest in operating flight services from Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok as proposed by the state government.
“Planes having 186 seats will be operated and the expenditure will be borne by the state government. The revenue generated from ticket sales will be retained by the state government.”
According to the most recent travel reservations, internal travel appears to have recovered after COVID-19, but this has not yet been the case for foreign visitors to Odisha. Stakeholders blame the dearth of nonstop international flights to Bhubaneswar for this.
According to a report from the Ministry of Tourism, the state has only witnessed a sparse number of foreign visitors so far this year, and there were just 2,269 of them in contrast to 37.4 lakh domestic arrivals. Interestingly, despite many lockdowns throughout the year, the number of international tourists visiting Odisha in 2020 was 10,206, a higher number than in 2019. The state had received 46.2 lakh domestic tourists that year.
Prior to Covid, the state welcomed 1.15 lakh foreign visitors, and the domestic tourism market saw 1 crore visitors in 2019. The majority of foreign visitors to Odisha during this time—those who choose organised tours—came from Malaysia and Western Europe.
“Of the total bookings for organised tours between October this year and March-end next year, foreign arrivals in Odisha are only 10 per cent. Blame it on the lack of direct international flights. Prior to Covid, we at least had direct flights to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.”
The travel and hospitality sectors were banking on the possibility of direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok (these nations have historically been significant aviation hubs). The above-mentioned three nations were the first in line when the state government issued a Request For Quote (RFQ) two months prior to selecting airlines for a direct route between Bhubaneswar and overseas locations.
Only one airline, Indigo, has expressed interest in running three flights per week, including weekends, and direct flights from Bhubaneswar to the three nations. The proposal from Indigo has been submitted to the state government for review, according to representatives of the transport department.
“For any international flight service, there is a need for continuity. We are hoping that if one airline begins its direct flights from Bhubaneswar to different countries and is provided all the facilities to continue the service, other airlines will follow.”
Foreign travel operators from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and other South Asian nations expressed interest in partnering with the state to promote tourism at the Odisha Travel Bazaar earlier this year, provided there is direct aircraft connectivity.
Also read: Malkangiri airport in southern Odisha is scheduled to open in 2024
International tourism can be resurrected, according to JK Mohanty, Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and IATO (eastern area), if there are direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Bodh Gaya and Thailand, Dubai, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Nepal.
“Because, a lot of international tourists come to Bodh Gaya through Kolkata, Delhi or Mumbai for Buddhist tourism. HRAO also suggests that international flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai can be diverted to Bhubaneswar for lessening the congestion.”
For the time being, Odisha has added three foreign locations to its list. It will expect to improve connectivity to other foreign locations as more tourists arrive.
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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