Bhubaneswar: The tourism sector in Odisha received a major strategic impetus during a high-level interactive session titled Formulating and Collaborating on a Robust MICE Policy for Odisha, jointly hosted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at the Mayfair Sanctuary. Held on the second day of the Odisha Travel Bazaar, the meeting brought together senior government administrators, industry leaders, and key stakeholders to deliberate on expanding the state’s footprint in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
A central highlight of the event was the official launch of the Odisha MICE Incentive Portal by Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida. With this rollout, Odisha has become the first state in the country to introduce a dedicated digital framework streamlining corporate conference promotions and simplifying financial incentive application processes for event organizers, potential investors, and tourism enterprises.Secretary Tourism Shri Balwant Singh outlined the details on Tourism Policy.
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Parida emphasized that the state government’s administrative procedures and incentive frameworks are completely transparent, empowering business partners to directly drive regional economic growth. Reaffirming the administration’s proactive stance, she noted that clearance procedures for the MICE sector, destination weddings, sports events, and cultural heritage enterprises are being actively expedited. She highlighted that tourism department officials are maintaining close, continuous engagement with investors to monitor progress and facilitate smooth project approvals, reflecting a progressive shift in governance.
Highlighting the soaring domestic demand for experiential travel and destination celebrations, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out a clear cultural shift toward hosting weddings at sacred shrines and curating localized tourist experiences. She added that Odisha’s diverse landscapes—ranging from ancient Buddhist stupas and expansive coastlines to scenic natural vistas—offer immense potential for corporate retreats, professional photoshoots, and regional culinary tours. Assuring full backing to investors, she stated that the government will continue to streamline administrative frameworks, incorporate private sector recommendations, and offer capital subsidies.
Shri Balwant Singh, Secretary, Department of Tourism, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the Odisha Tourism Investment Policy, elucidating the array of commercial opportunities available in the state. He explained that current policies are strategically tailored to provide targeted support for heritage, sports, and business events, fostering an ecosystem defined by rapid project clearances and constant investor dialogue. Industry representatives echoed these sentiments, observing that Odisha’s blend of historical temples, Buddhist tourism circuits, pristine beaches, and rich indigenous arts opens up novel horizons for innovative conference planning.
Celebrated Chef and Odia Cuisine Brand Ambassador Shri Ranveer Brar spoke on cultural authenticity as the bedrock of the state’s global appeal, stressing that high-end travel relies heavily on rarity, cultural integrity, and bespoke experiences. He proposed a comprehensive 100-day mapping initiative to document local storytellers, culinary traditions, indigenous cooking techniques, local markets, and traditional festivals. According to Chef Brar, these foundational elements are the heartbeat of visitor engagement and must be integrated while directly supporting local artisans and implementing translation services to preserve traditional vocations with dignity.
Sharing perspectives on the experience economy, Shri Sumit Bose, Co-Founder of Wizcraft Group and Chairman of the FICCI MICE Tourism Committee, presented an industry roadmap on integrating local rituals, craft traditions, and indigenous cuisine into contemporary corporate conferences and hospitality programs. The deliberations underscored the critical need for robust infrastructure, professional service standards, and collaborative frameworks to attract large-scale national and international conventions, incentive tours, and experiential festivals to the state.
The proceedings commenced with an introductory address and agenda overview by Tourism Director Shri Dipankar Mahapatra, while Shri J.K. Mohanty, Co-Chairman of the FICCI Tourism Committee and CMD of Swosti Group, delivered the concluding vote of thanks, reiterating the collective resolve to position Odisha as a premier destination for business events and experiential tourism.