Bhubaneswar, Nov 18 (FN Representative) Odisha government has proposed to develop new eco-spots with night stay facilities at Deomali, Karlapat and Nawana. The proposals for developing new eco-spots were approved in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra here today. The Chief Secretary directed the department to release funds immediately for development of the spots and asked the officials to maintain “pristine character of the eco-spots spots with adequate sanitation measures”. Eco-Tourism operation through Community Based Management (CBM) model rolled out by Odisha government in 2016 has proved quite successful. The eco-spots in Odisha have attracted both the domestic and international tourists recording a manifold increase in the number of footfall and revenue generation, thereby adding to the livelihood sources of the local community.
Mr Mohapatra directed officials to scale up CBM model through closer oversight and capacity building of the community members dealing with the tourists and visitors. Additional Chief Secretary Mona Sharma said, “Eco-retreat activities started by Odisha government have invoked private investment in the sector. The hospitality centers and hotels have come up near Daringibadi and Konark. Some investors have also expressed interest in starting private ventures in other spots like Deomali”. The Chief Secretary asked IDCO to acquire non-forest land near popular eco-tourism centers and develop those for setting up the tourism and hospitality units. Presenting the updates, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wild Life) Sashi Paul said 47 eco-tourism destinations were developed and operationalised in different areas spreading across 18 revenue districts of Odisha.
The activity added to the income of many tribal families in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Bargarh, Nayagarh and Koraput. Mr Paul said that this year the new spots were developed and operationalised at Nrusinghnath, Koraput pine forest, Patora dam and Tensa. Under the CBM model around 90 percent of the revenue generated from the eco-spots was shared with members of the respective communities managing the spots. Review showed the number of visitors to the eco-destinations increased from 11,500 in 2016-17 to 29,024 in 2018-19 and further to around 57,000 in 2020-21. Tourists from 18 countries including France, Germany, Iran, Australia, Netherland, Belgium and South Africa visited the eco-spots with night halts. Similarly, the revenue generated from eco-tourism increased from Rs. 1.57 crore in the fiscal year 2016-17 to Rs.3.40 crore in 2017-18 and Rs.5.61 crore in 2018-19. In 2020-21 the revue generation further grew to Rs. 8.32 crore. The current year also showed a rising trend in different spots.