THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Odisha is ready to lead India’s tourism growth with an ambitious strategy focused on attracting global visitors and investments while ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism reach local communities and small businesses, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said on Thursday.

Parida made the remarks while announcing the seventh edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) 2026, which will be held from October 3 to 5 at Mayfair Sanctuary here. Organised by the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the three-day B2B tourism marketplace is set to bring together more than 200 buyers, over 100 tourism businesses and facilitate more than 6,000 pre-scheduled business meetings.

The event will feature more than 92 private company exhibitors, foreign tour operators from 27 countries and domestic buyers from 32 cities, providing a platform for tourism businesses to explore new partnerships, markets and investment opportunities.

 “Our tagline is ‘Think India, Think Odisha.’ If anyone in the world wishes to invest in India or explore India, they must think of Odisha first. Through our progressive policies in adventure tourism, homestays and hospitality, Odisha is advancing on a war footing to drive the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision,” Parida said at a pre-event press conference today.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the state's tourism strategy was aimed not merely at increasing visitor numbers but at creating direct and wider economic opportunities for communities across Odisha. She emphasised that the benefits generated by tourism should extend beyond hotels and resorts to local entrepreneurs, small businesses and communities.

Parida also underlined the importance of creating memorable tourism experiences by integrating Odisha's culture, traditions and local communities into the state's tourism offerings. She urged media representatives and global tourism stakeholders to become brand ambassadors for Odisha by showcasing its rich cultural heritage and living traditions, particularly those of rural Odisha, to audiences around the world.

The business-focused format of OTB 2026 is expected to strengthen linkages between Odisha's tourism enterprises and buyers from domestic and international markets. With thousands of scheduled B2B meetings, the event will provide tourism stakeholders an opportunity to develop commercial partnerships and promote the state's diverse destinations and experiences.

As part of the bazaar, eight pre- and post-event familiarisation (FAM) tours will be organised to different destinations across Odisha. Tour operators, buyers, media representatives and influencers will get first-hand exposure to the state's tourism products, ranging from heritage and spirituality to nature and wildlife, tribal traditions, coastal attractions and experiential tourism.

The FAM tours are designed to give participating stakeholders a closer understanding of Odisha's destinations and tourism experiences, potentially helping them develop new itineraries and promotional opportunities for visitors from different markets.

Culinary tourism will also receive a special focus at the event, with celebrity chef Ranveer Brar scheduled to share his experiences as part of efforts to highlight Odisha's food traditions and culinary potential.

The 2026 edition of OTB comes as Odisha seeks to strengthen its presence in the domestic and international tourism marketplace by combining business networking with destination promotion and immersive experiences.

The press conference was also attended by Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Tourism; Deepankar Mohapatra, Director, Department of Tourism; Dhiman Majumdar, Secretary General, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO); Alok Moharana, Secretary, Travel Agent Association of Odisha (TAAO); Gagan Sarangi, Chairman, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Odisha Chapter; Debasish Mishra, President, Enterprising Knot of Travel and Tourism Associates (EKTTA); and Yugabrata Kar, Secretary, Odisha Tour Operators Association (OTOA).