THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 5, 2026

In a significant move to strengthen inter-state tourism collaboration and promote its vast travel potential, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, in association with FICCI as the Industry Partner, organized a high-profile Tourism Roadshow in Bhubaneswar on Friday. The event brought together tourism stakeholders, travel trade representatives, hoteliers, tour operators, media professionals, and government officials to explore new opportunities in tourism and hospitality.

The roadshow showcased Chhattisgarh as an emerging tourism destination, highlighting its rich tribal heritage, ancient archaeological sites, spiritual circuits, breathtaking waterfalls, dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries, vibrant art traditions, and immersive cultural experiences. The initiative aimed at enhancing tourism linkages between Odisha and Chhattisgarh while fostering new business partnerships within the travel and hospitality sectors.

The Chhattisgarh delegation was led by Neelu Sharma, Chairman, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board; Dr. S. Bharathidasan, Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Chhattisgarh; and Vivek Acharya, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, along with senior government officials and tourism stakeholders from the state. Deepankar Mohapatra, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, was also present on the occasion.

Poonam Sharma delivered the welcome address, while Dr. J.K. Mohanty, Co-Chair, FICCI Tourism Committee, proposed the vote of thanks.

Addressing the gathering, Neelu Sharma invited tour operators, travel agents, and hoteliers from Odisha to actively promote Chhattisgarh among their clientele. Emphasizing that tourism growth requires collective participation beyond government initiatives, he called for stronger collaboration between Odisha and Chhattisgarh to boost regional tourism and deepen bilateral engagement through joint promotional activities.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S. Bharathidasan highlighted Chhattisgarh’s commitment to sustainable and experiential tourism. He noted that the state offers travelers a unique opportunity to discover untouched natural landscapes, vibrant tribal traditions, spiritual destinations, and adventure tourism experiences that remain largely unexplored. He further informed that the state government is actively promoting tourism through various platforms and major tourism events while establishing information centres in key cities such as New Delhi, Kolkata, Vadodara, and Bhopal. He announced that Chhattisgarh Tourism is now planning to open a dedicated information centre in Bhubaneswar to further strengthen outreach in Odisha.

Vivek Acharya underlined the Tourism Board’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, and position Chhattisgarh among India’s most promising travel destinations. He invited tourism stakeholders from Odisha to collaborate in promoting curated tourism circuits and unique travel experiences across the state.

The programme commenced with a colourful cultural performance showcasing the rich traditions and heritage of Chhattisgarh. This was followed by presentations highlighting the state’s tourism attractions, investment opportunities, and emerging tourism products. Earlier in the day, a B2B networking session facilitated interactions between tour operators from Odisha and tourism stakeholders from Chhattisgarh, paving the way for future partnerships and business collaborations.

The event concluded with an interactive networking dinner, providing participants an opportunity to strengthen industry connections and explore collaborative avenues for tourism promotion.

Representatives from the travel and hospitality industry lauded the initiative and expressed keen interest in promoting Chhattisgarh as a preferred destination for leisure, cultural, spiritual, and adventure tourism.

The roadshow served as an important platform to raise awareness about Chhattisgarh’s diverse tourism offerings and reinforce its growing reputation as a destination that seamlessly blends nature, culture, heritage, and adventure.