Bhubaneswar, May 30: The state government will launch a scheme to facilitate pilgrimage for senior citizens, irrespective of their religions, from Berhampur in July.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik to review the activities of the tourism and culture departments here today. It has been decided to announce a tourism policy for the state in August.

Under the scheme, the state government will sponsor the pilgrimages of 1,000 senior citizens in the first phase from Berhampur and they will get the opportunity to visit pilgrim centres in south India.

The government will sponsor pilgrimages to various spiritual destinations between July and September every year with Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Sambalpur being chosen as the starting points. Pilgrimages to Allahabad and Varanasi will begin from Bhubaneswar, Haridwar and Rishikesh from Sambalpur and south India from Berhampur.

Altogether, the government will sponsor the pilgrimages of 3,000 senior citizens in the first year, 6,000 next year and 9,000 the following year.

While those in BPL categories will travel free, people in APL categories will get 50 per cent subsidy. The tourism department has also set a target for 20 per cent growth in the footfall of foreign tourists.

There were also discussions about relaxing restrictions on foreign tourists visiting areas inhabited by vulnerable primitive tribal groups in order to draw them to the state.

The government had imposed restrictions on visiting tribal areas following criticism about allowing them on "human safaris". A panel formed to look into the issue has recommended relaxation of the restrictions and advised engaging local youths as guides, officials said.