Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
INTERVENTIONS: 7.1. New investment: The Tourism Policy envisages the development of tourism infrastructure through collaboration between the government and the private sector. The Tourism Policy 2016 encourages private investment and provides attractive incentives for new investment in tourism sector. The implementation of various provisions covering incentives, concessions etc. will be based on the detailed operational guidelines / statutory notifications by the Department of Tourism (DoT). 7.2. Land Bank: The State Government with the objective of establishment and promotion of tourism has developed a robust land bank at key tourist locations throughout the State. Various parcels of land suitable for development of tourism projects and currently being held by General Administration (G.A.), Revenue, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) & various other government agencies has been earmarked & reserved for tourism purpose. The land so reserved will be allotted for tourism project as per IPR, 2015 rate as applicable. The Land Bank is meant to: • optimize the latent potential of land available all across the State and use it for development of tourism infrastructure. • and facilitate investors to get land for tourism projects. 18 Though the DoT has developed a Land Bank, the efforts to identify more land shall be a continuous process. DoT / District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) shall prima facie identify lands / sites appropriate for tourism development through site visits, site studies and assessment of tourism development potential in the area. The identified land parcels shall be reserved in the form of a Land Bank for development of appropriate categories of tourism projects as identified by DoT. The details of the Land Bank for tourism projects would be made available on the websites of DoT and the concerned District Administration. The role of DoT shall be of a facilitator and would be the first point for receiving applications for development of Tourism Projects on the land identified through the Land Bank. On receipt of applications from private entrepreneurs, DoT shall facilitate the grounding of the tourism project. The disposal of the land / property shall be in accordance with the decision of the appropriate Committee to be formulated by the Department of Tourism. 7.2.1. Land Recommendation Committee: A Committee (Land Recommendation Committee) shall be formed for allotment of land parcels from the Land Bank. The Land Recommendation Committee shall meet at least once in every three months and shall comprise – • Chief Secretary, Odisha - Chairman • Secretary, Department of Tourism - Member-Convenor • Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue & Disaster Management - Member • Special Secretary, G.A. Department - Member • Concerned RDC - Member • CMD/MD,IDCO - Member • Collector of the concerned District - Member • Director, Department of Tourism - Member DoT shall act as the secretariat for the Land Recommendation Committee. 7.3. Human Resource Development / Capacity Building: This policy aims to streamline and strengthen the human resource development activities which include; capacity building programs, sensitization of stake holders in tourism industry and making available trained manpower for hospitality sector. This will involve – 19 • Setting up of new Hotel Hospitality and Hotel Management institutes/Universities through private participation. • Industrial Training Institutes/Polytechnics would be encouraged to introduce tourism related courses for subordinate staff of hotels / resorts / motels / lodges, caterers, guides, cab and tourist coach drivers to enhance skills. • Institutions running management courses in the state will be encouraged to offer Hospitality and Travel Management related courses. Institutions / NGOs carrying out sensitization programs related to tourism would be encouraged. • Short term courses relating to capacity building for hospitality industries in rural area with support of State Institute of Rural Development. 7.4. Safety & Security: The DoT has established seven special Tourist Police Stations in the State in major tourist destination. Department of Tourism (DoT) envisages ensuring safe tourism through setting up of more Police Stations, provision of dedicated police personnel at major tourist destinations, life-guards at beaches in coordination with local NGOs and SHGs. It shall be the endeavor of the Government to pre-empt and prevent abuse/ exploitation of women and children in and around tourist destinations. For ensuring the safety and security of tourists visiting the tourism destinations across Odisha, the Tourism Policy, 2016 provides for the following measures. DoT shall take steps to employ personnel, preferably ex-servicemen, for provision of security to tourists in specific tourism destinations. DoT shall also provide appropriate training to the selected personnel for providing better services to tourists. DoT shall organize training and sensitization programs for policemen posted at key tourism destinations in association with the Department of Home for ensuring that policemen empathize with genuine complaints and grievances of tourists. In order to prevent exploitation of women and minors in any form, DoT, in conjunction with the local police administration, shall take proactive steps to prevent such abuses. 7.5. Clean Tourism Sites Campaign. As a part of Clean India Campaign, the Tourism Department shall endeavor to launch special drive for making the tourist destination clean. The Tourism Department shall set up a beach cleaning authority comprising prominent persons having experience in the field. The Tourism Department shall involve different tourism stakeholder to take forward this initiatives. Special sensitization programme including awareness programme 20 through electronic media shall be launched for this purpose. The Department of Tourism has started mechanized cleaning in Puri Sea Beach. Similar cleaning operations shall be made in all the Sea Beaches like Gopalpur, Talsari, Chandrabhaga, Ramachandi, Chandipur & other important tourism sites. The beaches in the State of Odisha are famous for their beauty and efforts shall be made to keep them clean and beautiful for the tourist. 7.6. Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) • The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation shall be modernised and strengthened to make it a more effective tool for promotion of tourism. • To develop and promote Odisha as one of the premier destination of the country and to adopt such methods and devices necessary to attract tourists in large numbers. • To provide / operate quality tourism infrastructure on its own or through appropriate PPP structures. • To act as facilitator for development of tourism in the State. • Continue with the existing properties with improved facilities, services and value addition. • Promoting star category hotels and other facility as green field project through private participation. • Marketing of lesser known tourist destination to bring it to the lime light through package tours and providing basic amenities. • Providing a total travel solution to the tourists visiting the State. • Selective privatization of the existing Units for profit optimization. • Promoting Odisha as a favoured destination in general and OTDC hotels as favoured host amongst the tourist through extensive marketing, value addition, quality infrastructure and improved services. 7.7. Tourism Units to avail incentives / subsidy: A new Tourism Unit should be opened to all and shall not be confined to exclusive use of members of any group or club or any such other restrictions. A new tourism unit or an expansion of an existing tourism unit will be eligible for incentives provided they satisfy the following conditions: • The new unit should obtain registration with the concerned registering authority to be detailed by the DoT. 21 • The new project should have separately identifiable capital investment and should not be an extension of the existing project. The new project will not lose its eligibility, if the utilities of existing units for water, electricity, steam, pollution control, central facilities etc. are extended to the new projects. Expansion of existing project will be eligible for incentives, provided the existing tourism unit increases its investments in fixed capital or capacity by at least 50% as elaborated in Para. 6.4. The existing tourism properties to be developed on PPP mode will be eligible for fiscal incentives provided, the private partner fulfill the minimum development plan prescribed in the Lease-cum-Development Agreement and the property is further augmented through investment in fixed capital or capacity by at least 50% of the existing capacity + prescribed minimum development plan. 7.8. Tourism Undertaking: Tourism Undertaking' means a legal entity in the form of a registered company under the Companies Act, 1956, a Partnership firm, a Registered Trust, a legally registered Co- operative society or an individual proprietary firm engaged or to be engaged in one or more tourism projects. The proposed tourism facility should be open to all and shall not be confined to the exclusive use of members of any group or club or any such other restrictions. 7.9. Eligible Capital Investment for incentives: The following investment shall be considered eligible for incentives: • Payment made towards registration charges of land. • Building constructed for providing specific tourism facilities/services. The actual expenditure incurred and paid for construction of building as per the norms will only be considered. • Other construction such as boundary wall, landscaping and any other project specific construction. • Plant and machinery • Interior furnishing • Electrical installation / renewable energy installation • Furniture and fixtures • Kitchen equipments • Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) • Generator and Air Condition plant / AC unit 22 7.10. Ineligible Capital Investment: The following investment shall not be eligible for incentive: • Cost of land • Working capital • Goodwill • Commissioning fees • Royalty • Pre-operative expenses • Second hand plant and machinery, furniture fixtures, electrical installation etc. • Interest capitalized • Trucks, cars, vans, trailers and other transport vehicles • Consumables, crockery and utensils, bed linen • Technical/Consultant fees • Any construction which is nature of real estate development i.e. shops, flats, offices etc. meant for sale / lease / rent. 7.11. Eligible Units (Tourism Projects) for availing incentives: • Hotels of star categories • Apartment hotels • Heritage hotels, resorts, health farms and health & wellness spa. • Motels, wayside amenities and public amenities at tourist sites, • Theme based entertainment centre, Amusement park, Aquarium, Aqua Park, Multiplexes (Cinema halls) of at least three (3) screens • Adventure sports, beach sports and water sports, • Art and craft Villages, Craft and souvenir shops at tourist sites excluding manufacturing, development of souvenirs and artisan hubs • Golf courses • Camping, Caravan, Tents and other temporary accommodation facilities developed for tourism purposes • Aerial Ropeways • Convention centers, • Adventure Tourism projects • Cruise boats, Houseboats • Eco-Tourism projects / Cruise Tourism projects / Wellness Tourism projects • Adventure Tourism projects / Knowledge Tourism projects / Buddhist Tourism projects / Heritage Tourism projects • Wildlife safari • Film city • Medical tourism (only the Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited Hospital) • Exclusive Tourism & Hospitality related Institute / universities • Other Projects approved by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha or Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. 23