Odisha is no longer content to be India’s best-kept tourism secret. Under the larger vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and 2047, the state is undertaking a broad-based transformation designed to move tourism from a promising sector to a major engine of investment, employment and global visibility.

At the heart of the strategy is a problem familiar to destinations worldwide: creating an ecosystem where investors can actually build. The proposed Tourism Land Bank, backed by an allocation of ₹1,500 crore over five years, aims to identify and develop around 5,500 acres across destinations including Chilika, Konark, Puri and the Buddhist circuit. By making land infrastructure-ready, Odisha hopes to unlock hotel, resort and convention-centre development at scale.

The investment story is being strengthened further by the ₹500-crore Waterfront Development Scheme, which seeks to transform riverfronts and urban water bodies into attractive, sustainable spaces for residents and visitors alike.

Policy Reform as a Tourism Growth Lever

Policy reform is another major lever. The Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026 lowers the minimum room requirement for three-star hotels from 50 to 10, potentially widening participation for smaller hospitality entrepreneurs. Capital Investment Subsidies of up to 40 per cent in Special Tourism Zones, alongside incentives for museums, pre-1950 heritage properties, electric mobility tourism and electric boats, signal a deliberate push towards differentiated and sustainable tourism infrastructure.

From Temples and Beaches to a Wider Experience Economy

The product strategy is equally ambitious. Odisha is expanding beyond its established temple and beach credentials into spiritual, Buddhist, culinary, MICE, events and community-based tourism. A proposed partnership around Jirang monastery—Odisha’s “Little Tibet”—could give fresh international visibility to the Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri-Jirang Buddhist circuit, with meditation and monastic immersion experiences adding depth to the itinerary.

Culinary tourism is receiving dedicated attention, including support for authentic Odia restaurants in major markets such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Homestays are being positioned to bring communities into the tourism economy, while destination weddings, conferences and sporting events are opening new demand windows. The OMC Puri Coastal Marathon, scheduled for December 2026, illustrates the ambition to use major events as destination-marketing platforms.

The Scale—and the Untapped Opportunity

The numbers provide compelling context. Odisha welcomed more than 1.13 crore tourists in 2024–25, representing roughly 14 per cent annual growth. Yet international visitors remain a relatively small share—arguably the state’s biggest untapped opportunity.