The Odisha government plans to develop 15 homestays across five fishermen-dominated coastal villages in Ganjam district’s Chikit block, using subsidies and investor incentives under the state’s new Tourism Policy-2026 to expand tourism around Sonapur beach.
The selected villages are Sonapur, Katura, Surala, Jhatipadara and Eksingh. All five are located along the coast and are being considered for homestay facilities aimed at providing visitors with a local cultural experience while creating new tourism-linked economic opportunities for residents and investors.
The plan centres on Sonapur beach, which lies near the confluence of the Bahuda river and the Bay of Bengal, around 30 km from Berhampur. The beach has retained Blue Flag certification for three consecutive years, according to the report, meeting international standards related to cleanliness, environmental sustainability and safety.
The beach’s certification has been linked to the active participation of local people and has positioned Sonapur as a model for sustainable coastal tourism in the district. The proposed homestays in adjoining villages are intended to provide accommodation for visitors travelling to the beach while extending tourism activity beyond the main destination.
Ganjam collector Keerthi Vasan V said an investors’ meet would be held at Chhatrapur on Friday to discuss the state’s new tourism policy and schemes, including the proposed homestay facilities. Around 250 investors are expected to attend the meeting, which will also be attended by Odisha tourism commissioner-cum-secretary Balwant Singh.
Under Tourism Policy-2026, each homestay project will receive financial assistance, with investors eligible for a subsidy of Rs 2.5 lakh per room, according to sources cited in the report. Homestay owners will also receive support for capacity building and marketing facilities.
The proposed accommodation network places local settlements within the district’s wider tourism circuit, which includes Gopalpur and Sonapur beaches, the Tara Tarini shrine, Taptapani’s hot spring, and the historical sites of Jaugada and Potagada. Other attractions cited by the district tourism office include the Biranachi Narayan temple, known as Wooden Konark.
Janak Kumar Tarai, Ganjam’s district tourist officer, said the district’s scenic locations and cultural and historical destinations attract visitors from India and abroad throughout the year. The investors’ meeting will also examine other tourism investment opportunities in Ganjam, according to the report.
The immediate next step is the Chhatrapur investors’ meet, where the state is expected to present the policy incentives and proposed homestay opportunities to potential investors.
