Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha Pravati Parida on Thursday officially announced the 7th edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) 2026, which will be held from October 3 to 5 at Mayfair Sanctuary, Bhubaneswar. The announcement was made at a pre-event press conference held at Mayfair Lagoon.
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 will bring together more than 92 private company exhibitors, foreign tour operators from 27 countries and domestic buyers from 32 cities. The event is expected to facilitate more than 6,000 pre-scheduled business meetings.
Speaking at the press conference, Pravati Parida said Odisha is pursuing an ambitious tourism strategy aimed at generating direct economic benefits for local communities while strengthening the state’s position on the global tourism map.
“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,” she said.
Highlighting the inclusive approach of the state’s tourism policy, Parida said the economic benefits generated by tourism should reach communities and small businesses across Odisha rather than remain limited to hotels and resorts. She further emphasised the importance of creating memorable experiences for tourists through Odisha’s culture, traditions and local communities.
The Deputy Chief Minister also invited media representatives and global tourism stakeholders to become active brand ambassadors for Odisha by showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage and living traditions, particularly those of rural Odisha, to audiences across the world.
As part of OTB 2026, eight pre- and post-event Familiarization (FAM) Tours will be organised to different destinations across the state. Tour operators, buyers, media representatives and influencers will get first-hand exposure to Odisha’s diverse tourism products. Key highlights of the event included an experience-sharing session by celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar to promote culinary tourism.
The FAM tours will showcase the state’s heritage and spirituality, nature and wildlife, tribal traditions, coastal attractions and experiential tourism offerings, helping participating stakeholders understand the destinations and tourism experiences available across Odisha.
Other dignitaries present at the press conference included 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 our Operators(IATO), Odisha Chapter, Debasish Mishra, President, Enterprising Knot of Travel and Tourism Associates(EKTTA) & Yugabrata Kar, Secretary, OTOA.
