Puri, Aug 25: "We must enhance the hospitality industry sector and a favourable business and social environment in Odisha, a state of immense potential. We will also generate wealth efficiently to create new job opportunities for our youth."

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Swasti Premium Beach Resort in Puri on Sunday.

"Odisha has immense tourism potential. Due to the lack of business environment and proper planning, we couldn't make Odisha a tourist center like Rajasthan. Thus, we have to create a systematic business environment," said he.

Be it Hotel Swasti or the Belgadia Palace in Baripada in Mayurbhanj District, seeing all these Odia people can make a big plan to promote the tourism industry. Transparency is important for creating tourism infrastructure.

The Union Minister said the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized on strengthening Odisha's tourism industry in the current budget. The Modi government is planning to start the much-anticipated 'Coastal Highway' under the 'Purvodaya' concept.

"Coastal Highway will be the lifeline of New Odisha," he asserted.

He stressed on the expansion of highways, waterways, ports and airport infrastructure to create jobs and strengthen the local economy.

The BJP government will prioritize the development of the hospitality industry in Odisha. The hospitality industry is a major source of income generation. "Let it be our resolve that we all take collective responsibility in building a new Odisha, using the opportunity of the state's geographical position," he said.

Congratulating the Swasti Group on the opening of the Swasti Premium Beach Resort, he hoped that the hotel having an imprint of art and heritage of Odisha will create a new identity in the hospitality sector.

Deputy Prime Ministers Pravati Parida and KV Singh Deo, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, MP Sambit Patra and MLAs of Puri, Brahmagiri and Ekamra-Bhubaneswar were present.

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