By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 24, 2015 : In a bid to attract tourists to the state, the Odisha government has decided to lift restrictions on movement of foreign tourists in tribal-dominated areas of the State.

A committee under the chairmanship of home secretary will review the restrictions imposed on tourists in general and foreign tourists in particular to visit sensitive tribal areas and submit recommendations to the State government.

Odisha government had imposed restrictions on tourists visiting remote tribal areas on July 7, 2013 as the state
government apprehended threats to their lives.

Incidentally, the state government had in recent years relaxed restrictions, imposed earlier in 1995 following perceptible ‘misrepresentation’ of India by foreign tourists, to attract more overseas visitors. But it decided to reimpose those following the controversy over certain groups resorting to internet advertising showcasing scantily attired Bonda tribals and offering entertainment for tourists.

Orissa has the second highest tribal population in the country and is home to 62 tribal communities, including 13 categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), numbering around 90,000. The PVTGs, namely, Bonda, Didayi, Lanjia Saura, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saura, Paudi Bhuyan, Lodha, Dongria Kondh, Hill Khadia, Mankirdia and Bihor, spread over 12 districts, fascinate many because of their interesting rituals and customs. A similar incident had occurred in the Andamans.

It may be recalled that on March 18, 2012 two Italian tourists were abducted by Maoists from the Kandhamal-Ganjam border raising hue and cry across the world.

The restrictions have seriously affected the inflow of tourists to the state forcing the tourism department to review the ban on tourists visiting tribal dominated regions in the state.

“At least one-third of the foreigners visiting Orissa go to tribal areas to see PVTGs, especially Bonda in Malkangiri and Dongaria Kondh in Rayagada who still show up in traditional costumes,” a tour official said. “Due to threat from extremists, tourists seldom go to PVTG villages and prefer to visit haats where such tribal people come. The government should focus on building capacities of such communities so that they benefit from tourism while preserving their traditions.”

Experts said, these events have adversely affected the tourism sector as tourist inflow declined.
In Kandhamal district, no foreign tourists visited 5 of the 6 tourist spots of the district since 2012. Only 379 foreign tourists visited Phulbani in 2013, while it declined to 67 in 2013. Foreign tourist inflow to Koraput and Rayagada has also declined.

With the situation turning grim, the State government has no option but to revisit its decision on imposing restrictions, officials added.