Bhubaneswar, June 22: In a major move aimed at transforming Odisha into a premier tourism destination, the state government has begun groundwork for creating a dedicated Tourism Land Bank, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to attract large-scale private investment in the hospitality sector.
Sources said district administrations have been directed to identify and earmark land parcels near major tourist destinations across the state. The move comes after the Tourism Department received government approval to roll out the ambitious project, which seeks to provide investors with pre-cleared and tourism-friendly land for future development.
The Tourism Land Bank is expected to cover nearly 5,500 acres in phases over the next five years. Priority locations include Chilika, Puri-Konark, Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, Talasari, Tampara-Aryapalli and the Buddhist Circuit.
Officials say the objective is to eliminate one of the biggest hurdles faced by investors—land acquisition. By creating a ready inventory of land parcels near tourism hotspots, the government hopes to accelerate the development of hotels, resorts, wellness retreats, eco-tourism facilities, convention centres and other tourism infrastructure.
The initiative is expected to be implemented between 2026-27 and 2030-31 with an estimated outlay of Rs 1,500 crore. The Tourism Department will serve as the nodal agency, while district administrations, OTDC, IDCO and other departments will coordinate execution on the ground.
Notably, district collectors have already started identifying suitable locations. In Ganjam district, a team led by the collector recently surveyed several areas around Chilika, including Mangalajodi, Kalijai, Rambha and Balugaon, for inclusion in the proposed land bank.
Tourism experts believe the project could significantly boost Odisha's tourism economy by attracting domestic and international investors, generating employment opportunities and improving visitor infrastructure in lesser-explored destinations.
With the state witnessing a steady rise in tourist footfall in recent years, the Tourism Land Bank is being seen as a strategic step towards positioning Odisha as a leading tourism and hospitality hub in eastern India.
