Sambalpur: First in 4 Years; 812 Foreign Tourists Visit Samaleswari Project, Hotel Association Proposes More Promotion
Sambalpur: During the construction of the Samaleswari project, Sambalpur received a large number of foreign tourists. According to a tourism department report, a large number of foreign tourists visited Sambalpur for the first time in four years. However, the report stated that none of the district’s other seven recognized tourist centers received any foreign visitors this year.
Expansion of Samaleswari Temple
The shrine of Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of Sambalpur, initially covered 4.42 acres of land. A large portion of land, around 44 acres, was acquired during the Samaleswari project, expanding the temple premises. Various facilities such as a light and sound show, information center, parking lot, marketplace, Mission Shakti Cafe, lamp house, pilgrim facilities, shoe storage, and a well-organized bathing area for devotees were developed. Additionally, the Mahanadi Ghat was upgraded.
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Future Developments
The second phase of the project will include the construction of a pilgrims’ rest house, a welfare lodge, a food court, a market building, and a water park on a 50-acre site. The previous BJD government set aside ₹450 crores for the Samaleswari project. Although the current administration has continued the work, it remains unfinished.
Tourist Surge in 2023
In the run-up to the 2024 elections, the Samaleswari project received significant attention. This resulted in a record number of foreign tourists in 2023, a trend not seen before. In comparison, only 60 foreign tourists visited Sambalpur, 14 Hirakud, and 14 each of Huma and Ushakothi in 2020. In 2022, 292 foreign tourists visited Sambalpur while only 11 visited Hirakud. Historically, Sambalpur saw few foreign tourists.
Hotel Association’s Perspective
Shila Shivprasad, president of the Sambalpur Hotel Owners Association, stated that despite the fact that Jharsuguda Airport is only 50 kilometers from Sambalpur, the number of foreign tourists has not increased as expected. He suggested that better promotion might change this.
Lack of Promotion and Tourist Information
There are currently no hoardings or information boards advertising these tourist destinations between Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda Airport, and Sambalpur Railway Station. Furthermore, there is no tourist information center available. Experts believe that with more consistent and widespread promotion of Sambalpur’s tourist attractions, the number of foreign visitors could increase significantly year after year.
