Managers Of Ecotourism Destinations In Odisha Under COVID-19 Management Training

Bhubaneswar: The Wildlife Wing of Forest department with support from Odisha Tourism has launched training and capacity building of managers of different ecotourism destinations of the state on COVID Management.

“We are trying to benchmark our COVID management performance in the country. We have started training the managers and community members for handling the pandemic situation successfully,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) HS Upadhyay.

“Training community members on different aspects of sanitization and hygiene will also go a long way in managing the Nature Camps properly. We are also under the process of equipping all Nature Camps with sanitization equipment and safeguards.” he added.

Odisha has more than 40 ecotourism destinations including beach resorts, nature camps, rivers, valleys with more than 300 rooms scattered across them. More than 600 community members are engaged to look after these properties and provide hospitality to the visitors.

These destinations have remained closed since March due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Director of Tourism Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav said the training is imparted to the managers and community members on different aspects of COVID management before reopening. The booking of the facilities is made mostly through the official web portal making it a contact-free process.

“As Odisha’s tourism and hospitality sector opens up, community managed ecotourism camps will play a central role in our revival efforts, winning tourists’ confidence, hearts and minds,” said Jadhav.