The Odisha government has decided to re-open all its tourist sites to the people in a phased manner from the first week of October.

The closure of these destinations for tourists has not only meant loss of revenue for the government but also loss of livelihood for a large number of people dependent on the tourism industry.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik highlighted the state’s tourism potential in a tweet on the World Tourism Day: “Odiha’s treasure of timeless monuments, heritage, idyllic natural beauty, cultivating landscapes, diverse flora and fauna are a traveller’s delight. On World Tourism Day, reiterate commitment to unlock its vast potential in a post pandemic world.”

Tourism minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahy said: “We have decided to open the 358 tourist destinations in a phased manner from October.”