Bhubaneswar: Odisha has launched a dedicated MICE Incentive Portal to promote the state as a destination for corporate meetings, conferences, exhibitions and incentive travel, Tourism Department officials said on Sunday.
The portal was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida during a roundtable on strengthening Odisha’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem, organised jointly by the Tourism Department and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Mayfair Sanctuary as part of Odisha Travel Bazaar 2026.
Odisha has become the first state in the country to introduce a dedicated digital platform aimed at marketing its destinations for corporate conventions and facilitating applications for financial incentives by event organisers and tourism operators, according to the department.
Addressing industry representatives, Parida said the government was committed to transparent policies and faster approvals for MICE events, destination weddings, sports events and cultural heritage initiatives.
She said the state would examine suggestions from the private sector, address administrative bottlenecks and extend targeted capital subsidies to encourage investments in the sector.
Highlighting the potential of destination weddings and experiential tourism, Parida said Bhubaneswar’s temple heritage, historical monuments, cultural traditions, food and scenic locations could offer distinctive experiences for younger travellers and event organisers.
Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh outlined investment opportunities under the Odisha Tourism Investment Policy and said the government was providing targeted support for heritage, sports and business events besides facilitating investor outreach and project clearances.
FICCI MICE Tourism Committee Chairman and Wizcraft Group Co-Founder Sabbas Joseph presented an industry roadmap for integrating Odisha’s cultural heritage, artisan traditions and cuisine into conferences and hospitality programmes.
Celebrity chef and Odisha’s official brand ambassador for Odia cuisine Ranveer Brar stressed the importance of cultural authenticity in building Odisha’s global tourism identity. He called for a 100-day mapping exercise to document potential event venues as well as local storytellers, traditional recipes, cooks, markets and festivals.
Brar also advocated direct support for indigenous artisans and the use of language and interpretation services to showcase local traditions without diluting their cultural identity.
The roundtable brought together senior government officials, tourism industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss infrastructure, professional standards and operational frameworks needed to attract national and international conventions, incentive tours and experiential events to Odisha.
