Bhubaneswar: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to rethink non-essential foreign travel and choose domestic destinations instead, Odisha’s tourism industry is finding itself divided between concern and hope. While travel agents dealing in overseas packages fear a drop in business, others believe the move could shine a spotlight on the state’s tourism potential.Indian Association of Tour Operators (Odisha chapter) chairman, Gagan Sarangi, said outbound tourism has remained popular among travellers from the state, much like inbound travel to Odisha. However, he pointed out that rising costs within India have pushed many travellers to consider foreign destinations.“Operators dealing in international travel may be affected by the Prime Minister’s appeal. At the same time, domestic tourism in India has become expensive, whether it is hotel tariffs or airfare. That is one reason why many people now prefer destinations like Bali, Vietnam, Singapore or Sri Lanka,” Sarangi said.He added that popular hill stations and major tourist destinations within the country are often overcrowded and costly during peak seasons, making international travel comparatively attractive for middle-class families. “This summer season, we received several enquiries from travellers in Odisha for destinations like Darjeeling. But all hotels are sold out there. At the same time, tourism within the state has also become increasingly expensive,” he said.However, Bhubaneswar-based travel operator Raman Choudhury, who deals in overseas tour packages, said the PM’s appeal is unlikely to have a major impact on outbound tourism from Odisha, primarily because international connectivity from the state has already reduced significantly.He pointed out that direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Singapore and Dubai have been discontinued, leaving Thailand as the only international destination, currently connected through direct flights from the state. The Thailand service now operates twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.On outbound travel trends, Choudhury said Thailand continues to witness strong demand from Odisha for both leisure and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism. “Every week, around 300 to 400 people from Odisha travel to Thailand for holidays and MICE activities,” he said.Choudhury recalled that when direct flights to Singapore and Dubai were operational, the response from travellers was equally encouraging. “Occupancy in both the flights, with a seating capacity of around 180 passengers each, often touched nearly 100%, with 170 to 175 filled on many days,” he said.He added that travel to Europe, especially the United Kingdom, has traditionally been seasonal. “Earlier, around 200 to 250 people from Odisha used to visit Europe during summer vacation period or around Durga Puja. But this summer season has seen a noticeable impact because of the war situation,” he said.Even as outbound travel operators remain cautious, tourism experts see the PM’s appeal as a potential opportunity for Odisha’s domestic tourism sector. Hospitality entrepreneur Debashish Patnaik said domestic tourism has already witnessed strong growth in the post-pandemic years, and the latest appeal could further boost footfalls. Tourism department’s data shows that domestic tourist increased to 1.10 crore in 2024 from 78 lakh in 2022 in the state.He added the state could attract even more visitors if its tourism potential is promoted effectively. Stakeholders in the hospitality sector said established destinations such as Puri, Bhubaneswar, Konark and Cuttack already have a reasonable number of hotel rooms, though emerging destinations like Koraput still require better infrastructure.“Along with private hotels, OTDC properties and eco-tourism facilities run by forest department are also helping expand accommodation options at several tourist sites,” said hospitality stakeholder Benjamin Simon.
