BHUBANESWAR: November 15, 2009. (PCP) Debi Prasad Mishra, the Tourism and Cultural Minister of the State of Orissa in Indian Federation have now welcomed Christian Tourists to the state. Orissa had been in the news for sometime with the Kandhamal riots where Christians where hunted and their houses burnt. The present attempt of the government is to pacify the negative feelings and strong media campaign against the state and its government by the Christian leaders. In a conversation with the Bishops of North India the Minister officially welcomed Christians into the state and declared a special package from the part of the State Government promoting Spiritual and religious tourism. He said that the government has already added Christian heritage sites in the state in its tourism map. He said, “We want to tell the Christian spiritual leaders that Orissa is full of religious heritage sites belonging to Christianity. It will attract many from the community to the state.” He refuted the comments that the Kandhamal riots last year has earned a bad name for the state and its efforts to promote tourism her said, “The bishops know how the government has overcome the situation so strongly.” He also said that “things were absolutely normal in Kandhamal as told by many Bishops.”