As India’s eastern state of Odisha strengthens its tourism infrastructure, industry stakeholders believe the state now needs a renewed push to grow international arrivals and promote emerging destinations – Gagan Sarangi, director of Dove Tours, discusses his company's expansion into new verticals and way forward for the travel and tourism sector in Odisha
Kindly share some new developments in your travel company.
We have recently expanded our portfolio by launching a new vertical dedicated to hotel representation, sales, marketing and public relations (PR) services. Through this initiative, we aim to support hotels, resorts, eco-tourism destinations and hospitality projects by strengthening their presence in both domestic and international markets. Our focus is on developing strategic marketing partnerships, enhancing brand visibility and generating quality business from key market segments including corporates, MICE, travel trade and leisure travellers.
Another key area of our expansion is luxury destination weddings. Dove Tours now offers end-to-end planning and management of premium weddings at exotic destinations across India and overseas, providing personalised experiences for couples and their guests. We are also making a strong foray into outbound tourism with specially curated international holidays for senior citizens, corporate groups and discerning high-end travellers seeking premium group vacations abroad.
As a tour operator working in Odisha, what are the key challenges you have to face? What additional support from the government or industry stakeholders would you like to see for tour operators in the state?
One of the biggest challenges for tour operators in Odisha continues to be the declining footfall of foreign tourists. Over the years, international arrivals to the state have reduced significantly, directly impacting businesses that depend on inbound tourism. While domestic tourism has grown impressively, foreign tourists contribute substantially to the local economy through higher spending and longer stays.
We hope the government of Odisha will continue to strengthen its overseas marketing and promotional campaigns in key international markets. Sustained participation in international travel marts, destination branding and stronger collaboration with the travel trade are essential to revive Odisha’s inbound tourism.
Another major concern is the lack of quality wayside amenities across the state’s tourist circuits. Clean restrooms, hygienic food outlets, parking areas, tourist information centres and proper signage are essential to improving the visitor experience. Unless these infrastructure gaps are addressed, it will be difficult to significantly increase foreign tourist arrivals.
The government should also create opportunities for designated camping sites to encourage travellers to explore Odisha’s lesser-known destinations safely and responsibly. In addition, Odisha needs a transparent and progressive rural tourism policy that actively promotes community-based tourism. The focus should be on developing high-value, low-impact tourism models that generate sustainable livelihoods while preserving the state’s cultural and natural heritage.
Which destinations and experiences are seeing the strongest growth?
Over the past few years, Odisha has witnessed a significant increase in domestic tourist arrivals. Travellers are increasingly seeking experiential, cultural, spiritual and leisure holidays. One of the fastest-growing segments has been MICE tourism and destination weddings. Demand for these segments has grown considerably, particularly in destinations offering quality hotels and modern infrastructure.
Puri, Bhubaneswar and Gopalpur are witnessing the strongest growth because of their premium hotels, improved connectivity and excellent event facilities. Alongside this, there is increasing interest in eco-tourism, heritage tourism and nature-based experiences.
What are the key source markets for Odisha today? How is the demand for the upcoming inbound season shaping up for the state?
For inbound tourism, Odisha’s traditional source markets continue to be France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Germany and the UK, where travellers have shown a strong interest in Odisha’s heritage, tribal culture, and wildlife experiences. On the domestic front, Maharashtra and Gujarat continue to be among the state’s strongest source markets, particularly for leisure travel, MICE events and destination weddings.
As far as the upcoming inbound season is concerned, bookings have been relatively slow so far. This may be due to the prevailing global geopolitical uncertainties and economic conditions, which often influence international travel decisions. However, we remain optimistic that demand will improve as global travel confidence strengthens.
Beyond destinations like Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple and Chilika Lake, which lesser-known attractions do you believe have the potential to become tourism hotspots?
I believe South-Western Odisha, particularly the Koraput region and Western Odisha have immense potential to emerge as the state’s next major tourism hotspots. With improving infrastructure and connectivity, these regions are becoming increasingly accessible. Koraput offers spectacular landscapes, waterfalls, tribal culture, coffee plantations and eco-tourism experiences while Western Odisha boasts attractions such as Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Hirakud Reservoir, Nrusinghanath, Harishankar and several heritage and Buddhist sites. With better accommodation facilities, destination marketing and tourism infrastructure, these regions can become major growth centres and help spread the benefits of tourism to rural and tribal communities.
How do you view the state government’s investments in road connectivity, airports, hotels and tourism infrastructure? How are these investments impacting the visitor experience and your business?
The Odisha government’s emphasis on tourism infrastructure has certainly had a positive impact. Investments in roads, airports and tourism facilities have improved accessibility and enhanced the visitor experience. One of the biggest achievements has been encouraging investment in quality hotels. Odisha’s tourism policy is among the best in the country, offering attractive incentives for new hospitality projects. As a result, several reputed hotel chains have entered the state, while many new four-star and five-star hotels are under development. This has created tremendous opportunities for MICE tourism, destination weddings and premium leisure travel.
