Paperman Media | Bhubaneswar
Marking a significant milestone in Odisha’s tourism and economic roadmap, the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) inaugurated the 7th edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) 2026 at Mayfair Sanctuary, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the Three-day flagship tourism event as the Chief Guest, bringing together global and domestic tourism stakeholders, hospitality investors, international hosted buyers, tour operators and industry leaders on a common platform.
The event aims to showcase Odisha’s diverse tourism assets before national and international markets while creating opportunities for business partnerships, investment and collaboration across the tourism and hospitality sectors. The three-day event will continue till October 5, with business-to-business (B2B), business-to-government (B2G), buyer-seller meetings and investment discussions forming the core of the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described Odisha as a state with immense potential to emerge as one of India’s leading tourism destinations. He said the state is moving beyond conventional approaches to tourism development and is working towards creating an investor-friendly and world-class tourism ecosystem.
The Chief Minister said a visit to Odisha offers travellers an opportunity to experience thousands of years of human civilisation, rich artistic traditions, pristine beaches, forests, tribal culture and globally recognised biodiversity destinations. He particularly highlighted destinations such as Bhitarakanika and Chilika as important components of Odisha’s tourism identity.
He said tourism is an important pillar of the state’s Viksit Odisha Vision 2036–2047 and has the potential to contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth, employment generation and preservation of Odisha’s cultural heritage. The government is therefore working on comprehensive master plans for 15 marquee tourism destinations with the objective of developing them as globally competitive tourism destinations.
The Chief Minister highlighted the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy 2026 as an important step towards attracting larger investments into the sector. Under the amended policy, the minimum room requirement for star-category hotels has been reduced from 50 rooms to 10 rooms, making it easier for smaller and specialised hospitality projects to qualify for incentives.
The capital subsidy ceiling has also been increased to ₹120 crore. The policy provides subsidies of up to 40 per cent for museums and heritage properties, while electric boats, electric caravans and art and craft complexes are eligible for capital subsidies of up to 50 per cent.
He further said the state has approved a dedicated scheme for acquiring 5,500 acres of land bank for hospitality infrastructure, backed by an investment of ₹1,500 crore. Capital subsidies of more than ₹163 crore have already been disbursed, reflecting the government’s efforts to support tourism-related investments.
Calling upon investors and hospitality companies from across the world to explore opportunities in Odisha, the Chief Minister urged global stakeholders to partner with the state and participate in its tourism growth story. He reiterated his appeal to investors, saying, “My State deserves more than any other State,” while inviting them to invest, partner and grow with Odisha.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who attended the event as the Guest of Honour, emphasised the need to move from conventional sightseeing-based tourism towards holistic and experiential tourism.
She said Odisha offers visitors a complete experience combining spiritual heritage, forests, tribal traditions, handlooms, handicrafts, cuisine and the warmth of local communities. Under the guiding identity of “Think India, Think Odisha,” the state is seeking to position tourism as an important engine of entrepreneurship and livelihood creation.
The Deputy Chief Minister said The benefits of tourism growth should reach local communities and create opportunities for women, artisans, drivers, guides and small food entrepreneurs. She highlighted the role of local participation in building a sustainable tourism ecosystem.
Odia cuisine, she said, can serve as an important bridge between travellers and destinations. At the event, the book “Pitha, Mitha & Pana” was released in the presence of celebrity chef and Cuisine Brand Ambassador Ranveer Brar.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also launched the new Odisha Tourism website and the Odisha Tourism Investment Incentive Management System Web Application during the event. The digital initiatives are aimed at improving access to tourism information and facilitating investors seeking incentives and support under the state’s tourism policies.
The event also highlighted the growing connection between sports and tourism. The jersey and medal for the upcoming OMC Puri Coastal Marathon were unveiled in the presence of cricket legend and Padma Bhushan awardee Kapil Dev.
Earlier, welcoming the guests, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Balwant Singh, IAS, outlined the scale and objectives of OTB 2026.
He said the Odisha Travel Bazaar has been designed to bring together stakeholders who create tourism experiences with those who market, sell, support and invest in them. This year’s edition has expanded beyond conventional buyer-seller meetings to include a wider range of business and investment interactions.
The inaugural ceremony was highlighted by the felicitation of sports icons, including Shri Kapil Dev, India’s first ODI World Cup-winning captain, alongside national record-holding Asian Games pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan. Spotlighting Odisha’s emerging sports tourism, the event featured a video showcase of the upcoming OMC Puri Coastal Marathon, followed by presentations detailing the design stories behind its official marathon merchandise. The proceedings culminated with the formal unveiling and launch of the event's official jerseys and finisher medals.
A total of 145 domestic tour operators from 32 cities and 45 foreign tour operators from 27 countries are participating in the event. More than 100 local Tourism Service Providers are also taking part.
