Bhubaneswar, March 31 -- Odisha's tourism sector witnessed a contrasting trend in 2024, with a healthy rise in visitor footfall but a sharp decline in overall earnings, raising concerns about the quality of growth in the industry.

Data from the state's tourism department shows that total revenue from tourism dropped to Rs 7,140.58 crore in 2024, down from Rs 9,870.93 crore in 2023, a decline of nearly 28 per cent. This comes despite a 13.12 per cent increase in tourist arrivals during the same period.

According to Travel and Tour World report, the state recorded over 1.10 crore visitors in 2024, compared to around 97.7 lakh in the previous year. While the surge in footfall reflects Odisha's growing appeal as a travel destination, the fa...