Taiwan tourists denied entry into Odisha’s national park

BHUBANESWAR: A team of 13 tourists from Taiwan including two senior political leaders was allegedly humiliated and denied entry into the Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapada district because of their nationality.
It happened in December and was revealed after Bhubaneswar-based tour operator Saroj Kumar Samal mailed a complaint to Rajnagar divisional forest officer K K Swain on January 6.
“On December 21 the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary authorities categorically said Taiwanese citizens were not allowed into the park but they could not substantiate the reason of such strange restriction. They did not produce any such order or restriction in writing. The shocked tourists requested the park authorities to allow them entry but to no avail,” said Samal, managing director of Tropical Vacations Pvt Ltd.
“The tourists blamed me for the inconvenience and are demanding Rs 13 lakh compensation from me. They have threatened to move their Embassy in Delhi if the park authorities fail to substantiate why there were not allowed into the wildlife sanctuary,” Samal said. Most of the tourists were senior citizens, he added.
The forest department has started an inquiry. “I have received the complaint. An inquiry is on to verify the charges,” Swain said. He refuted any such restriction on Taiwanese nationals. “I am trying to find out why they were denied entry. I learnt the foreigners did not possess entry permission from the district superintendent of police. This might have been the cause of denial to the park,” Swain said.
Odisha tour operators’ association reacted sharply. “The government has never asked tour operators to take permission from the local SP to take foreigners inside the park. Such rule is applicable only for entering tribal areas,” said association secretary Yugabrata Kar.
When contacted Kendrapada SP Rabindra Narayan Behera said his permission was not necessary to gain entry to the park.