CM Majhi calls for making Odisha a ‘tourist paradise’; unveils new tourism portal and investment incentive system

State govt to deploy tourist police at 29 destinations, 1,000 lifeguards to boost tourist safety

PRIYABRAT BISWAL

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 3, 2026

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday called for making Odisha an ideal destination and a “paradise for tourists”, while urging national and international investors, hospitality brands and tourism partners to tap the State’s vast tourism potential.

Speaking at the inauguration of the seventh edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar in Bhubaneswar today, Majhi also launched a new Odisha Tourism Portal for promoting the State as a tourist destination and a web application for the Odisha Tourism Investment Incentive Management System to facilitate investors.

The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the tourism event as its chief guest, said the State was taking a series of measures to accelerate the growth of tourism and attract large-scale investment. He said the government had reduced the minimum room requirement for star hotels from 50 to 10 rooms under the updated tourism policy, while the ceiling for capital subsidy had been increased from ₹20 crore to ₹120 crore.

The government has also approved a ₹1,500-crore budget for tourism infrastructure between 2026 and 2031, besides sanctioning a 5,500-acre land bank to facilitate the development of new hotels and resorts in the State.

As part of efforts to make Odisha safer for visitors, CM Majhi announced that a Tourist Police system would be introduced at 29 major tourist destinations. In addition, 1,000 trained lifeguards would be deployed through OSWALI at beaches and water-sports destinations to strengthen tourist safety.

The government will also appoint destination managers at locations witnessing high tourist footfall, the Chief Minister said.

Majhi urged the people of Odisha to follow the principle of “Atithi Devo Bhava” and extend the best possible hospitality to tourists and devotees visiting the State. Such visitors, he said, could become Odisha’s “real brand ambassadors” if they carried back positive experiences.

In the age of social media, even a single unpleasant incident could spread rapidly, he said, urging people to work collectively to ensure that visitors had a pleasant experience in Odisha.

Majhi highlighted Odisha’s diverse natural, cultural and heritage attractions, saying the State possessed almost every form of natural beauty found on Earth, barring deserts.

He referred to the Jagannath Temple, the Konark Sun Temple, the 575-km-long natural coastline, the mangrove forests of Bhitarkanika, Chilika — described as Asia’s largest brackish-water lagoon — and the Hirakud reservoir as major tourism assets.

He said the State’s tourism sector was being strengthened in accordance with the Developed Odisha Vision 2036-2047 roadmap. Local artisans, guides and tour operators were also being equipped with modern digital skills to make tourists’ journeys smoother and more memorable.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, said Odisha was not merely a tourist destination but “a global experience”.

She cited the State’s Buddhist heritage, handlooms, heritage sites, Chilika and eco-tourism offerings as evidence of its diverse tourism potential.

 “Our culture was not created for tourism; it is alive in its original form,” she said, adding that the government was creating a strong ecosystem for sustainable tourism that would generate employment and promote skill development.

Tourism, she said, should become a strong contributor to the State’s economy. She also underlined the importance of adventure tourism and said efforts were being made to strengthen the segment further.

Former India cricket captain and legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, who attended the event, highlighted the role of sports and sportspersons in giving countries global recognition.

He said Indian athletes were bringing laurels to the country by winning medals at the Asian Games and the Olympics.

Dev also highlighted Odisha’s contribution to the development of Indian hockey. He said Odisha was moving beyond its tourism identity and emerging as an important sporting centre.

He expressed the view that Odisha would in the coming years become not only a major tourism destination but also a sports hub of India.

At the event, CM  Majhi launched several tourism-related initiatives and projects, including the new Odisha Tourism Portal and the web application for the Odisha Tourism Investment Incentive Management System.

He also released a special coffee-table book titled “Pitha, Mitha, Pana”, showcasing Odisha’s culinary heritage, and unveiled the jersey for the upcoming Puri Coastal Marathon.

The seventh edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar was organised with the objective of giving Odisha’s tourism sector a stronger global identity and attracting greater investment.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, Tourism Director Dipankar Mahapatra, FICCI National Tourism Committee Co-Chairman Dr. J.K. Mohanty, celebrity Odia cuisine brand ambassador Ranveer Brar, and Asian Games pole-vault national record holder Baranica Elangovan, among other prominent personalities, attended the event.