The Odisha government aims to enhance tourism by launching direct flights from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore through the Viability Gap Funding scheme. According to a tourism official, the state expects to double its foreign tourist arrivals by 2025, reaching 2.5 lakh visitors, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 1.2 lakhs in 2019. The Viability Gap Funding scheme involves government grants provided to airlines to cover the difference between operational costs and projected revenues.
To support this initiative, the Odisha government has allocated ?660 crore in the current year's budget for the tourism sector. During the Odisha Tourism Roadshow, Sachin Jadhav, Director of Tourism Odisha, expressed optimism about increased international tourists opting for onward flights to Odisha. The launch of direct flights to Dubai, which began on May 15, and to Bangkok and Singapore on June 3, reflects the government's proactive approach.
Besides boosting tourism, connecting Bhubaneswar to these three destinations is expected to strengthen trade links. Jadhav anticipates an average annual increase of 10-15% in tourist arrivals, with a compound average annual growth rate of 25% by 2025. Furthermore, Jadhav believes that the Odia diaspora will play a vital role in promoting Odisha as a premier tourism destination.
In December 2022, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved Indigo Airlines' proposal to operate flights from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok.