Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: The Odisha government has taken active steps in integrating the century-old handloom legacy with tourism to promote rural tourism in the state.

This has been done to popularize not only another form of tourism that will attract both domestic and foreign visitors alike but also to provide opportunities to the rural population to improve their socioeconomic condition.

A weaver’s craft village Bayanagram was inaugurated in Jaipur and Jagatsinghpur districts. Work is on developing Maniabandha Buddhist handloom village tourism and Tassar craft village at Gopalpur.

Officials said many foreign and domestic tourists are visiting different handloom clusters of Odisha to understand the various techniques and methods pertaining to the crafts and also for business purposes.

The artisans/community must have the skills set to engage the tourist/visitors in an informative and enriching hand on experience.

The government has proposed to train 730 master weavers/ awardees/ entrepreneurs/ Artisans of 73 handlooms clusters across Odisha on soft skills development in hospitality and tourism management.

A training program for weavers of the Cuttack zone has been organized by the Deputy Director of Textiles, Cuttack on September 15 and where 80 weavers from Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur districts were trained in two days.

The weavers were trained on communication skills, personnel grooming, hygiene, and soft skills, personality development, and behavioural etiquette. This training will enable and empower the community to exchange valuable information with the tourist as well as quality service to the tourist. (UNI)