Call for global promotion of Odia culture
"Odisha Tourism should partner with foreign agencies to promote such tourism," said Akshaya Mahanty, a businessman from Rhode Island, US.
They proposed leveraging Odias living in cities like London, New York, Bali, Bangkok, Sydney and Singapore to promote Odisha's culture and art forms. "Partnering with Indian embassies and diaspora communities can help identify and engage global influencers to authentically promote Rath Yatra, Bali Yatra, Dhanu Yatra and Khandagiri Mela abroad," said Saurav Choudhury, an IT professional in North Carolina, US.
The Odia diaspora advocated for positioning the festivals as immersive cultural experiences rather than solely religious events. "Digital campaigns and documentaries on social media and OTT platforms, experiences through different apps will give foreigners a taste of our festivals before they visit," said Gayatri Panigrahi, a homemaker from the UK.
They also recommended curated tourism packages, cultural camps and inviting foreigners to do crash courses in Odissi during winter months as well as yoga classes and beach huts to promote Odisha.
"Safe and dedicated walking and bicycle lanes, particularly from Bhubaneswar to Puri, would attract European tourists, who enjoy walking and cycling," said Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, environment programme coordinator, UN Centre for Regional Development.
He further suggested the govt should explore the possibility of getting all significant festivals recognised by Unesco as 'Intangible Cultural Heritage', which would add to their prestige and draw international attention.
Aditya Singh, a UK-based doctor, said important dates related to Rath Yatra, Bali Yatra, Dhanu Yatra and Khandagiri Mela should be announced well in advance for foreign tourists to plan their visits. "A small premium may be charged from people for VIP access to the festivals. Good quality accommodation and buses with guides should be arranged," he added.
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