Hoteliers on Saturday said promotion of tourism can end problems of Left wing extremism in the state. Strongly pitching for promoting the tourism industry, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) president H K Mohanty said sustainable tourism can provide jobs and employment to thousands of people.

Hotel industry generates scores of direct and indirect jobs. Steps should be taken to promote eco-tourism, rural tourism and culture tourism, he said. 

HRAO, which was scheduled to launch 'Visit Odisha Year,' promotional activities to promote tourism on April 1, had to postpone it due to the ongoing abduction crisis in the state, Mohanty told TOI.

Stating that Odisha was lagging behind other states to exploit its tourism potential, Mohanty said non-availability of hotels, lack of infrastructure and absence of an international airport in the state were scuttling state's tourism prospects.

HRAO recommends creating at least 4,000 three-star and 1000 five-star hotel rooms with investment of Rs 13,000 crores in the state, the HRAO chief said.