Udaypur and Talasari beaches in Odisha’s Balasore district continue to attract a large number of tourists, but inadequate accommodation facilities in the area are forcing many visitors to stay in neighbouring West Bengal. Despite being among the district’s prominent coastal destinations, the shortage of quality hotels has resulted in tourism-related revenue flowing to nearby Digha.Tourists Visit Odisha, Stay in West BengalThousands of tourists visit Udaypur and Talasari beaches every day and spend significant time along the scenic coastline. However, due to the lack of good hotels and proper lodging facilities in the area, visitors from both Odisha and West Bengal prefer to stay in Digha. Local residents said that although several initiatives have been announced to promote tourism, basic infrastructure, such as accommodation, remains grossly inadequate. Sharp Contrast with DighaResidents pointed to a stark contrast between Odisha’s coastal sites and Digha’s well-developed hospitality sector. Digha offers a wide range of hotels across all budget categories. In comparison, Udaypur and Talasari have only a handful of basic accommodation facilities, apart from those operated by the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).A local resident said, “This is causing economic loss to Odisha. While Digha has more than 2,200 hotels, we have very few here. Tourists from Odisha are spending more money staying in Digha due to government apathy.” Forest Land and Permissions Major HurdlesHotel entrepreneurs have shown interest in investing in the hospitality sector along the Balasore coastline, but have cited forest land restrictions and regulatory hurdles as major obstacles. Most areas around Udaypur and Talasari fall under the Forest Department and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), making it difficult to obtain construction approvals.Government Assures Action Within RulesTourism Secretary Balwant Singh recently visited Balasore and inspected the Udaypur and Talasari beaches. Balasore Collector Mayur Suryawanshi said discussions were held on issues related to hotel development in the region.“No development can be carried out in violation of Forest Department rules. However, there are different permissions under different forest laws, and efforts are being made to address the issues and explore how such permissions can be obtained,” he said.The lack of accommodation continues to remain a key challenge, even as tourist footfall at Udaypur and Talasari steadily increases.
