The Orissa Government, on 23 February 2010, approved a five-year prospective tourism plan and sanctioned Rs 718 crore for the development of tourism sector in the state.

Under the plan, the number of hotel rooms is proposed to be increased to 35,000 from 22,000 at present. The state government plans to hold a Buddhist conclave for promotion of Buddhist circuit tourism.

Also, the government hopes to complete the on-going tourism projects by 2011. Though the state government had started 33 tourism projects in the state, only eight projects have been completed. The remaining twenty five projects are targeted to be completed by March 2011.

According to sources, a mega-tourism project connecting Puri-Bhubaneswar-Chilika (Satapada) has been taken up at an investment of Rs 35.78 crore.

Similarly, to attract the high end tourists Shamuka Sea Beach project is being implemented in PPP mode. This will have international standard hotels, golf course, convention centre and related facilities. The government also intends to start a tourism plaza at Bhubaneswar and an aquarium of international standard at Puri.