Kolkata/Bhubaneswar: Affluent Chinese are now outbound and the investors from that country are keen to invest in Orissa. In this backdrop, Orissa tourism department plans to combine the state’s potential in eco-tourism, tribal tourism and Buddhist heritage sites to woo the Chinese tourists.

The state has already started initiatives in this direction with two road shows being organised at Shanghai and Shaoxing.

Similarly, the state also participated in the India pavilion at the Pacific Asia Travelers Association (PATA) meet held at Hanzhou in China.

“Affluent Chinese are now outbound and we are packaging various tourist offerings to woo them. We are targeting to attract about 2000 Chinese tourists to Orissa”, Devi Prasad Misra, minister of tourism and culture said. Talking to the media after participating in the road shows and PATA meet, Misra said, the response to the road shows organised at Shanghai and Shaoxing has been very good.

More than 100 tour operators and players in the hospitality sector have agreed to come to Orissa in the beginning of the next year. Besides, the Chinese investors have also expressed their interest to invest in the state. Such an initiative to attract the Chinese tourist has been launched for the first time by the tourism department, Misra added.

A road show was organised at Shanghai on 19 September and 128 persons belonging to media, travel agents and academics took part in the deliberations.

Similarly, another road show was organised at Shaoxing on 21 September and the minister highlighted the Buddhist heritage of Orissa there.

Misra also inaugurated the India Pavilion at the PATA meet held at Hanzhou. About 250 visitors and 25 buyers from different parts of the worls visited the Orissa tourism booth.