Odisha to Create 5,500-Acre Tourism Land Bank, Cabinet Approves New Hospitality Infrastructure Scheme

Bhubaneswar: Seeking to unlock large-scale investments in the tourism sector and accelerate the development of hospitality infrastructure, the Odisha Cabinet on Monday approved a dedicated Tourism Land Bank scheme that will create a pool of investment-ready land across major tourist destinations in the state.

The “Land Bank for Hospitality Infrastructure” scheme, to be implemented by the Department of Tourism, envisages the identification and development of nearly 5,500 acres of government and private land for tourism-related projects over the next five years.

Officials said the initiative is aimed at overcoming a longstanding challenge faced by investors—the lack of readily available land for tourism infrastructure projects. By creating a structured inventory of encroachment-free and infrastructure-ready land parcels, the government hopes to facilitate faster project implementation and attract greater private sector participation.

The scheme will be rolled out between 2026-27 and 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of ₹1,500 crore. An annual allocation of ₹300 crore has been earmarked for land identification, development and related infrastructure support.

Land parcels under the proposed Tourism Land Bank will be developed across some of Odisha’s most prominent tourism destinations, including Chilika, Konark, Puri-Shamuka, Dhauli, Hirakud, Satkosia, Similipal, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Deomali, Jiranga, Talsari, Tampara-Aryapalli and locations along the Buddhist Circuit. The government has also kept provisions for including additional destinations based on future tourism potential.

According to the Cabinet decision, the initiative will support destination-level master planning and provide investors with access to land suitable for developing hotels, resorts, eco-tourism projects, convention centres, wellness retreats and recreational facilities.

The government views tourism as a key pillar of economic growth and regional development. With its diverse mix of heritage sites, beaches, forests, wildlife habitats, pilgrimage centres and eco-tourism destinations, Odisha aims to significantly expand its tourism footprint under the Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Odisha 2047 vision plans.

Besides attracting investments, the scheme is expected to generate employment opportunities and boost local economies in both established and emerging tourist destinations. Officials said the programme would benefit local communities, artisans, entrepreneurs, tourism service providers and youth by creating new livelihood avenues linked to tourism.

The Department of Tourism will act as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme. It will work in collaboration with the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), Revenue and Disaster Management Department, General Administration and Public Grievance Department and other concerned agencies.

The state government believes the Tourism Land Bank will serve as a catalyst for the creation of modern tourism infrastructure, increase tourist footfalls and strengthen Odisha’s position as a leading tourism destination in India and Asia.