That the number of foreign tourists visiting the State is declining as been admitted Minister of Tourism and Culture Ashok Panda.
In reply to a query by BJP MlA Dilip Ray, Minister Panda informed the State Assembly on Saturday that the number of tourists visiting the country every year is rising however footfalls of these tourists have declined in Odisha.
While 76, 79,099 foreign tourists had visited India in 2014, the number visiting Odisha was only 71,426. The State’s share in the total number of foreign tourists visiting India was only 0.93 per cent in 2014.
The number also declined in Odisha in 2015 though the number increased in India as compared to the previous year.
Total 80, 27,133 foreign tourists had visited India in 2015 while the number visiting Odisha was only 66,971. Hence, the State’s share in the total number of foreign tourists visiting India was only 0.83 per cent during the year, Panda said.
The statistics placed by the Minister said that 62.07 lakh foreign nationals came to India by September, 2016. However, only 53,208 visited Odisha during the period. As numbers of foreign tourists have visited India since 2012, Odisha has not registered one per cent of it.
However, the domestic visitors’ inflow to Odisha has increased in the past five years.
As per the statistics, over 54 lakh domestic tourists had toured several places in the State in 2012, while the number rose to 64,74,077 in 2014. The number of domestic visitors was 70, 71,367 in 2015, while it was 50,81,815 by September 2016.
While 36, 15,832 tourists from other States had visited Odisha in 2012, the number rose to 47, 14,750 in 2015. Total 33, 88,272 people from other States have toured many places in Odisha by September, 2016.
Recently, the Government has announced a tourism policy aiming to drag attention of number of tourists to Odisha. The State registers 13 per cent GDP from the tourism sector, the Minister said.
There are total 1,759 hotels including 18 star hotels with 36,386 rooms to accommodate 73,094 tourists in the State.
Besides, there are 515 rooms in 20 Pantha Niwas, Yatri Niwas, Panthika and Forest Guest Houses for providing lodging facility to 1,100 tourists, he further said.
If the tourism industry will be developed in the mineral and heritage rich Odisha, it will help in strengthening the State’s economy, Ray said in a statement suggesting the Government for taking a positive initiative towards it.