BHUBANESWAR, Nov. 15 -- A total of 1,53,19,358 tourists, including 1,10,818 foreigners, visited the State in 2018 against 1, 41,11,243 in the preceding year, informed Tourism Minister Jyoti Panigrahi in the State Assembly on Thursday.

In response to a question of Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, the Minister said the number of tourists visiting the State has increased from 2014.

While 1,08,62,048 tourists, including 71,426 foreigners, visited the State in 2014, the number increased to 1,18,53,088 in 2015 and 1,29,19,260 in 2016. As many as 66,971 and 76,361 foreign tourists visited the State in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

The Minister informed that the Government has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for development of Nandapur tourist spot in ...