Odisha eases curbs on foreign tourists' visit to tribal zones

The Odisha government has relaxed some restrictions on the visit of foreign tourists and researchers to tribal pockets in the state even as 14 blocks inhabited by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) continued to remain out of bounds for foreign tourists.
The committee headed by the state Home Secretary, which examined the guidelines for regulation on foreign tourists and researches to tribal areas, has accepted the Tourism department's proposal to relax restriction on certain pockets.
The restricted villages list has also been accepted, said Lalit Das, the special secretary in the Home department.
Though the state government has restricted movement of foreign tourists to 14 blocks, rest of the areas would be free for all visitors, Das said adding restrictions were imposed on the foreign tourists movement in 2012.

The list of restricted blocks included 13 gram panchayats (GPs) in Kalahandi district, 18 GPs in Rayagada district, four GPs each in Nuapada and Malkangiri districts, 15 GPs in Kandhamal district and 14 GPs in Koraput district.
The entire Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada district has been kept out of the foreign tourists' map, officials said.

"Earlier, it was mandatory for tour operators and foreign tourists to obtain written permission from district collectors concerned for visit to tribal areas. Later, the guideline was modified and allowed the tour operators to get the permit from the office of the Tourism department in Bhubaneswar," said state tourism minister Ashok Panda.

Now, Panda said, tour operators need not visit the department office for the written permit.
They can just inform via phone or email to the police stations concerned or offices of the Superintendents of Police concerned while taking foreign tourists to the tribal districts, the tourism minister said.
According to the relaxed provisions, it is mandatory for foreign tourists to take assistance of government-approved guides while visiting tribal pockets.
"The ST and SC development department will identify tribal youths to act as guides. Tourism department will impart them training on how to deal with foreign tourists. We also urge tourists not to dishonour the tradition and custom of the tribals," Panda said.

Though the number of foreign tourists visit to the state has increased over the years, it drastically reduced in tribal areas after the restrictions were imposed in 2012.
The Odisha is home to 62 tribal communities, including 13 categorised as PVTGs.
As foreign visitors are attracted to the state for trekking, adventure sports and tribal tourism, allowing them to reside in tribal areas would help boost the sector, an official said.