BHUBANESWAR: Amid the controversy over attempts to create tourism facilities on forest land, the Odisha government is in the process of formulating a new ecotourism policy that aims at encouraging environmental conservation with tourism promotion and community development.
The draft Odisha Ecotourism Policy 2025 proposes a significant shift in the way tourism infrastructure is planned and executed in ecologically sensitive areas. It mandates that no new accommodation will be developed within forest or protected areas in a routine manner. Instead, only day-tourism facilities will be allowed after thorough feasibility assessments.
“All new proposals for ecotourism development in forest and wildlife areas will be evaluated under the guidelines for Sustainable Ecotourism in Forest and Wildlife areas, 2021 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), NTCA (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger), 2012 and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023,” the draft stated.
The new policy will promote quiet and immersive visitor experiences, focusing on natural and cultural heritage, conservation and livelihood options for the local community. However, opening of new destinations other than forest and wildlife areas will be taken up by other line departments.
The wildlife wing of the Forest department will be responsible for infrastructure development and circuit improvement within protected and forest areas, while the Tourism department will manage destination development in non-forest revenue areas.
Importantly, the draft policy clarified that in the event of any dispute, conservation priorities, including wildlife protection, biodiversity preservation and protected area management will take precedence over tourism development.
The policy proposed that the management can be outsourced to local entrepreneurs for long-term periods of 20 to 30 years for ecotourism sites located outside protected areas with lower tourist footfall. These operators will be allowed to invest in infrastructure upgrades, subject to approval by a committee headed by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden of Odisha.
In a bid to ensure long-term sustainability, the state government will also set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for responsible tourism to build capacity among local communities, government departments and the private sector. A comprehensive system will be developed to streamline tourist services such as permit issuance, accommodation booking, transport arrangements, and guided tours providing a one-stop solution for ecotourists.
With around 31 per cent forest cover, Odisha is home to an impressive array of flora and fauna including 86 species of mammals, 473 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles and more than 3,000 plant species. Its ecological treasures include two national parks, 19 wildlife sanctuaries, two tiger reserves, wetlands, mangroves, and turtle nesting grounds.