The Tourism Department on Tuesday assured travel and tour operators of the State a hassle-free permission to domestic and foreign tourists keen on visiting tribal areas.

On the second day of the Entrepreneurs Week, the Chairman of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha, J K Mohanty, asked the tourism authorities to make provision for single window clearance for tourists interested in visiting tribal areas. Mohanty said the tour operators and tourists should be allowed to seek permission through fax or e-mail and it should be deemed granted after 48 hours.

Secretary Ashok Tripathy promised to take up the matter at the highest level.

Stressing finalisation of the tourism policy at the earliest, Mohanty urged the State Government to allot land to entrepreneurs for setting up accommodation facilities at all eco-tourist spots.

Other demands of the association include Odisha Travel Mart and creation of additional rooms both in three and five-star hotels in the State and improvement of infrastructure at the Puri beach.