TAIWAN TOURISTS DENIED ENTRY INTO ODISHA’S BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

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.

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.

The forest department has started an inquiry. Rajnagar divisional forest officer said "I have received the complaint. An inquiry is on to verify the charges” .He refuted any such restriction on Taiwanese nationals and also said by Rajnagar divisional forest officer "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”.

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”.

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