The Odisha tourism department on Wednesday launched the second edition of Eco Retreat Festival at five major tourist places in the state, including Konark, to infuse life into the tourism sector that has suffered badly because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival, which involves staying in luxurious tented accommodations, will continue till February 28 next year.

Inaugurating Odisha Tourism’s flagship programme through videoconferencing, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, “The Eco retreats will offer tourists an excellent opportunity to discover Odisha’s diverse tourism offerings in style. It will go a long way in encouraging tourists from across India to explore these beautiful destinations set deep in the hinterlands of Odisha. Last year, Odisha had set a benchmark in luxury glamping with phenomenal success at the Marine Drive Eco Retreat at Konark. This time, we have scaled it upto five unique locations.”

The Eco Retreat Festival has started at Ramchandi sea beach in Konark, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Bhitarkanika National Park, Daringbadi in Kandhamal and Hirakud Water Reserve in Sambalpur district. At all these places, tourists will be offered accommodation facilities and services in luxury tented cottages on a par with three-star and five-star hotels during the festival.

Luxury tents with thematic ambience have been put up. The tents with double occupancy are priced between

Rs 6,000 and Rs 25,000 for one night and two days.

Taking a cue from the annual Rann Utsav at Rann of Kutch where the Gujarat government sets up tented accommodation for the tourists, the Eco Retreat Festival plans to showcase the best of Odisha’s food and culture for high-end tourists.

Union minister for tourism and culture Prahlad Singh Patel and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan also spoke on the occasion. Patel said the Eco Retreat at Konark and Rann of Kutch are two glamping events in India that have attracted the attention in the country and outside.

This year, a total of 145 cottages of different categories have been put up in five locations. The additional features in the current year at Ramchandi near Konark are sea-surfing sessions, parasailing, e-scooter, open-air restaurant and beach shack.

Officials said tourists can make bookings by using the integrated portal ecoretreat.odishatourism.gov.in.