BHUBANESWAR: The footfall of foreign as well as domestic tourists to Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Odisha’s finest bio-diversity hotspots, have shown encouraging growth.According to latest available statistics, as many as 2,681 tourists visited Bhitarkanika in September which is a 52 per cent jump over the corresponding month last year. In August though, the tourist inflow to Bhitarkanika was 1,968 reporting a 10 pc drop over the corresponding period in 2016.
However, what is heartening is in the two month period of August and September, as many as 53 foreign tourists visited Bhitarkanika. Compare this to August-September of 2016 when just one foreign national had paid a visit to the mangrove hotspot known to house some of the biggest saltwater crocodiles apart from being home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.
What makes the number more significant is the fact that August and September are off-peak tourism seasons. The period from November to January is the peak season during which 60 pc of the year’s tourist inflow is recorded.
Annually, about 75,000 tourists visit Bhitarkanika whereas the foreign tourist inflow hovers around 200. That a quarter of the foreign tourist inflow has been recorded between August and September alone has elated the authorities of the national park.
“The rise in tourist footfall is an outcome of concerted efforts of Forest Department which has launched new initiatives to draw more and more visitors to Bhitarkanika,” said Divisional Forest Officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The online portal of the Department has improved access of the tourists to the eco-tourism sites through easy reservation and payment systems. Currently, there are 23 beds available at Dangamal, 12 at Gupti and 16 at Habalikhati.Tourists can book these accommodations directly on the portal, the only option for reservation. Besides, the Department has also started bringing in empanelled tour operators to Bhitarkanika on exposure trips which has paid off big dividends.
That apart, the Tourism Department has also been collaborating to focus on the wetlands as a major eco-tourism destination of the State.Meanwhile, Olive Ridley Turtles, which nest at Gahirmatha Maine Sanctuary have already been sighted by the forest field staff in the Bay of Bengal.