Odisha launches ‘Safe Tourist Campaign’ to strengthen tourist safety at beaches and tourist destinations

Puri/Bhubaneswar, July 2026 : In a major initiative to strengthen tourist safety and promote Odisha as a safe and responsible tourism destination, the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with Odisha Fire and Emergency Services and the National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS), launched the ‘Safe Tourist Campaign’ at Puri on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, Pravati Parida, inaugurated the campaign in the presence of Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism Department, Balwant Singh; Director, Tourism, Deepankar Mohapatra; Director General, Odisha Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi; Inspector General, Odisha Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Umashankar Dash; senior officials of NIWS and other stakeholders.

As part of the programme, the Deputy Chief Minister distributed government licences to professionally trained lifeguards who have successfully completed internationally recognised lifesaving training. These certified lifeguards will be deployed across Odisha’s beaches and inland water bodies to enhance the safety of tourists and local residents.

The Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated a range of modern beach safety and rescue equipment, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), rescue boards, rescue tubes, inflatable rescue boats, life jackets and advanced communication systems. These facilities will significantly improve surveillance and emergency response capabilities along the coastline.
She also laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Rescue Centre and Watch Tower at Digabareni Beach in Puri to further strengthen beach safety infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, Pravati Parida said ensuring the safety of every tourist remains the State Government’s highest priority. She said the establishment of the Odisha State Watermanship and Lifeguard Institute (OSWALI) at Ramachandi has laid the foundation for developing a professionally trained cadre of lifeguards with international standards.

She further informed that nearly 200 lifeguards have already received advanced training in surf lifesaving, open water rescue, underwater rescue, swimming pool rescue, CPR, first aid and emergency response techniques.

“The ‘Safe Tourist Campaign’ is not merely a safety initiative but a long-term commitment of the Government to make Odisha one of the safest tourism destinations in the country. The campaign reflects our vision of responsible, sustainable and safe tourism, while strengthening Odisha’s position as a preferred destination for beach, adventure and water sports tourism,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The event also featured a live rescue demonstration by trained lifeguards showcasing modern rescue equipment and emergency response techniques, highlighting Odisha’s commitment to providing visitors with a safe and memorable tourism experience.