With creation of more ecotourism properties, Odisha witnessed the highest footfall of 46,000 visitors visiting such spots and earned revenue of Rs 6.85 crore during 2019-20.
The Ecotour Annual Report 2019-20, which was released on the occasion of State-level National Wildlife Week celebrations on Thursday, revealed this. Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Kesari Arukh, ACS Mona Sharma and PCCF Wildlife Hari Shankar Upadhyay graced the occasion.Till date, the State has developed 47 ecotourism properties with community model of ecotourism, which is yielding better results for the community living.
These properties have been created in forests, hill stations, valleys, rivers, lakes, lagoons, beaches, mangroves, waterfalls etc.Few nature camps like Badmul, Tikarpada, Mandasuru are adjoining gorges and camps like Rajhans, Berhampura are near lagoon and campls like Khandadhar, Sanghagra, Barehipani are near waterfalls., Dangamal and Habilikhati are inside mangrove forests nearby beaches. Mostly ecotour properties have been developed in tribal districts like Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Nayagarh and Bargarh.
In fact, Odisha is the only State in the country to have initiated Community Model of Ecotourism, where 80% of the revenue is getting diverted back to community itself.More than 600 community members are now engaged in these ecotourism nature camps.Looking at the Covid-19, protocols have been set and, accordingly, advisory has been issued to all nature camps.Community members have been provided protective instructions against the virus.