Odisha records the highest foreign tourist footfall in five years

Bhubaneswar, Sep 20 (UNI) Odisha witnessed a significant surge in tourism, with 53,392 foreign tourists visiting the state between January and December 2024, the highest in the last five years, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida informed the Assembly today.

Replying in writing to a question from BJP member Tankadhar Tripathi, Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, shared comparative figures of tourist inflows over the past years.
She said Odisha had received 10,206 foreign visitors in 2020; 2,269 in 2021; 22,121 in 2022, and 45,173 in 2023.

Domestic tourist numbers also reflected 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 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 have been deployed at Puri, including 100 appointed by the Home Department and 300 by private agencies. 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 state