The Odisha government has recently greenlit 24 adventure tourism projects spanning land, water, and aerial activities in various districts including Puri and Balasore, under the new 2025 guidelines.
With aspirations to elevate Odisha to a premier adventure tourism destination, the government is implementing the Odisha Tourism Policy-2026, with a vision for the state to become the leading tourism hub in India by 2029. In pursuit of this goal, the State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) convened for its third meeting to assess 27 adventure tourism proposals submitted via the ‘Go Adventure’ portal, launched on February 24, which facilitates all processes from registration to licensing for various adventure activities.
To ensure safety and compliance, the Tourism Department has established partnerships by signing Memoranda of Understanding with the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) based in Goa and Odisha Fire & Emergency Services (OFES), enhancing technical expertise and capacity.
Among the 27 proposals, 16 centered on aerial sports and 10 on water sports, with projects distributed across seven districts: Baleshwar, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Sundargarh, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur. The SLTC approved 24 of the proposals while rejecting three. This meeting was notable as it marked the first occasion where the committee evaluated projects involving land, water, and air activities simultaneously.
The projects are categorized under the Odisha Adventure Tourism Guidelines 2025 based on their readiness, with three receiving a direct ‘Licence to Operate’ while the remaining 21 were granted ‘Recognition to Set Up’, enabling them to commence infrastructure development following successful field assessments and safety checks.
Puri and Baleshwar emerged as key investment areas, with Puri attracting 12 proposals, Baleshwar six, and Koraput four. Officials are optimistic that this influx of interest will bolster tourism infrastructure throughout the state, stimulate private investments, and generate numerous local job opportunities.
Specifically, all three projects awarded an immediate ‘Licence to Operate’ are water-based, located at Talsari Udaipur Beach in Balasore, Haldia Dam in Mayurbhanj, and an additional water adventure site. Eight locations received the ‘Recognition to Set Up’ status for water activities, including Power Channel Reservoir (Burla), Chandipur Beach (Balasore), Talsari Udaipur Beach (Balasore), Paradip Muhana (Jagatsinghpur), Pitamahal Dam (Rourkela), Chandrabhaga Beach (Konark), Puri Beach, and Nua Nai River (Puri).
On the aerial side, five sites were awarded ‘Recognition to Set Up’: Talsari Udaipur Beach, Chandipur Beach, Talamali in Koraput, Puri Beach, and Satapada in Chilika. Odisha is set to combine coastal and hilly terrains under stringent safety regulations, paving the way for a significant chapter in the state’s adventure tourism journey.
