Bhubaneswar: Odisha is pursuing an ambitious tourism strategy focused on generating direct economic benefits for local communities and strengthening the state’s presence on the global tourism map, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said Thursday.
Addressing a pre-event press conference on the seventh edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) 2026, Parida, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, said Odisha was positioning itself to play a leading role in India’s tourism and hospitali ty sector by attracting international visitors, promoting local entrepreneurship and creating employment opportunities for the youth.
“Our tagline is ‘Think In dia, Think Odisha’. If anyone in the world wishes to invest in India or explore India, they must think of Odisha first,” she said, adding that the state was advancing its tourism agenda through progressive policies in adventure tourism, homestays and hospitality to contribute to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The OTB, organised by the Department of Tourism, in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), will be held from October 3 to 5. The three-day business-to-business (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. Parida said OTB would go beyond destination promotion and provide a platform for learning, skill development, career opportunities, entrepreneurship and investment for the youth of the state.
“Odisha Travel Bazaar will serve as a learning and training platform for our youth, acting not just as a tool for bringing visitors, but as a direct vehicle for career opportunities, entrepreneurship, investment and local economic development for Odia youth in their own regions,” she said.
Highlighting the inclusive approach of the state’s tourism policy, Parida said the economic benefits generated by tourism should reach local communities and small businesses across Odisha instead of remaining confi ned to hotels and resorts.
“We do not want the benefits of tourism to remain confi ned to hotels and resorts alone; the gains must extend directly to tour guides, drivers, local artisans, homestay operators, small entrepreneurs and service providers to build an economically vibrant and socially inclusive ecosystem,” she said.
Parida also invited media professionals and global tourism stakeholders to become brand ambassadors for Odisha by showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage and living rural traditions to international audiences.
As part of OTB 2026, eight pre- and post-event familiarisation (FAM) Tours will be organised to different destinations across the state. Tour operators, buyers, media representatives and influencers will get first-hand exposure to the state’s diverse tourism products and experiences.
The FAM tours will showcase Odisha’s heritage and spirituality, nature and wildlife, tribal traditions, coastal attractions and experiential tourism offerings, enabling participating stakeholders to gain a better understanding of the destinations and tourism experiences available across the state.
A key attraction of OTB 2026 will be an experience-sharing session by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar aimed at promoting Odisha’s culinary tourism.