Odisha Tourism Takes A Hit After Months Of COVID-Induced Curbs; Footfall Drops By 84%

Bhubaneswar: The COVID-19 pandemic has badly hit the tourism sector in Odisha with both domestic and international arrivals falling short this time of the year.

The state hosted only 652 international tourists in 2020-21 against 1,000,567 during the previous financial year.

While there was a 99 per cent drop in the arrival of foreigners, the number of domestic tourists reduced significantly by 84 per cent as their footfall nosedived to 23,79,523 in the last fiscal compared to 1,50,35,593 in 2019-20.

According to the annual report of Odisha Tourism, the overall fall in the arrival of tourists (both domestic and abroad) was 84.29 per cent in 2020-21 as compared to 2019-20.

Amid the COVID-induced curds and restrictions, 23,77,175 tourists visited Odisha in 2020-21 while the footfall was 1,51,36,160 in the previous financial year.

The state had been witnessing a drop in the arrival of tourists post-Fani, which battered Puri and Bhubaneswar. The footfall dipped by 3.12 per cent in 2019-2020 compared to 2018-19.

To revive this sector, roadshows were planned across the country to woo domestic travellers in May last year.  In September 2020, the ‘Odisha by Road’ campaign was launched allowing tourists to explore the state’s tourist circuit through its network of quality roads with people less likely to travel by air or train during the pandemic.

“Amid ban on international flights, road trips and eco-retreat events at five different locations were organised to tap the domestic tourists,” said a senior official.

While tourism was slowly reviving in November-December last year, the COVID second wave in March-April dealt a fresh blow to the sector, the official added.

With beaches and temples being opened for people amid relaxation in the curbs, Odisha can expect more people planning a trip to the state in near future.