Bhubaneswar: The second edition of the Eco Retreat festival organised by the Tourism Department simultaneously began at five places in Odisha on Wednesday.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through video-conferencing while Union Minister of Tourism & Culture Prahlad Singh Patel and Union Minister Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan addressed through video messages.
Keeping the huge success and response of the tourism festival last year in view, Odisha Tourism has started eco retreats (luxurious tent accommodations) at Konark, Bhitarkanika, Daringibadi, Hirakud and Satkosia.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the Eco Retreats 2020 will go a long way in encouraging tourists from across India to explore these beautiful destinations set deep in the hinterlands of Odisha.
In his message, the Union Tourism Minister reiterated his last visit and opined that the Eco Retreat at Konark and Rann of Kutch are two glamping events in India which have attracted the attention of the tourists in the country and abroad.
He appreciated the initiative of the Odisha government for taking such a novel initiative in organising the eco retreats in five locations amidst the global pandemic situation and wished all success.
In his address, Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the tourism potentials of the state and hoped that such glamping event will unlock tourism potentials of the state.
Among others, School & Mass Education minister Samir Ranjan Dash, Sports & Youth Services minister Tushar Kanti Behera, Jagatsighpur MP Rajashree Mallik, Puri MLA Puri Jayant Sarangi, Brahmagiri MLA Lalitendu Mohapatra, commissioner-cum-secretary, Tourism Vishal Kumar Dev and Puri ADM Puri were present.
This year, 145 cottages of different categories have been put up. The additional features in the current year at Ramchandi near Konark are sea surfing session, parasailing, e-scooter, open-air restaurant, beach shack etc.
The Eco Retreat will continue till February 28.
