The Satkosia sands resort at Badmul, an ecotourism project in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, has earned a revenue of Rs 1 crore by February 15.
The project was started in 2016 with three tented accommodations on the sandbar of river Mahanadi with an investment of Rs 2 lakh and engagement of six villagers. And by 2019, the project stands with 19 accommodations and annual income of Rs1 crore with 34 villagers directly drawing employment from it. The project is also the indirect source of livelihood for 7-8 sanctuary villages as they provide milk, rice, dal, vegetables, non-veg articles and travels, etc to the project on a daily basis.
By the end of financial year 2018-19, the total number of visitor was 4,450 with revenue of Rs 1.3 crore and this year repeating the success story, the revenue by February has already reached Rs1 crore with more than 4,500 visitors. The locals engaged in the project have been trained and work in different capacity like manager, cook, service delivery personnel, receptionist, eco-guide and boatman etc. Most of the community engaged are rural women.
Different programmes like “Know Your Birdsâ€, “Poacher turned Protectorsâ€, “Walk in the Jungle†etc are run by the community in the Nature Camp. Boating in Satkosia gorge, birding, trekking, sports, library, canopy walk, bathing ghat in river for tourists and farm visits etc, are the activities offered to tourists in the destination.
