Bhubaneswar: Over 1.33 lakh foreign tourists visited Odisha in five years, starting 2020, with the highest of 53,392 in 2024, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida told the Assembly Saturday.
Replying in writing to a question from BJP member Tankadhar Tripathy, Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, shared comparative figures of tourist inflows over the past years.
She said, “Odisha received 1,33,161 foreign visitors from 2020 to 2024, 10,206 in 2020, 2,269 in 2021, 22,121 in 2022, 45,173 in 2023 and 53,392 in 2024.” Domestic tourist numbers also reflected a steady growth.
The state hosted 18,49,066 visitors from other states in 2020, 14,97,076 in 2021, 31,47,466 in 2022, 38,90,369 in 2023 and 43,99,837 in 2024. Similarly, local tourism within Odisha showed an upward trend.
As many as 65,98,982 Odia tourists explored destinations across the state in 2024, compared to 58,34,815 in 2023, 47,20,443 in 2022, 22,45,145 in 2021 and 27,73,207 in 2020.
To ensure safety and comfort for tourists, Parida said, “The state government has strengthened security at major tourist sites.
Special Tourist Police Cells have been set up at Puri, Chandrabhaga, Dhauli, Lingaraj Temple, Nandankanan, Satapada, Gopalpur, and Chandipur.
Police patrolling has also been intensified along the Puri–Konark and Puri–Satapada routes.”
For beach safety, 400 lifeguards, 100 by the Home department and 300 by private agencies – have been deployed at Puri.
Additionally, 50 private lifeguards have been stationed at Gopalpur beach.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that multiple projects focusing on safety, security, and sanitation are underway across prominent tourist destinations in the coastal state.
PNN