Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5 (UDN): Odisha has taken a major step towards strengthening its position as a destination for business events, conferences and experiential tourism with the launch of a dedicated MICE Incentive Portal.
The digital platform was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida during a high-level roundtable on developing the state’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem.
The session was organised jointly by the Odisha Tourism Department and FICCI at Mayfair Sanctuary as part of Odisha Travel Bazaar 2026.
One-Stop Digital Platform for MICE Sector
According to the Tourism Department, Odisha has become the first state in India to introduce a dedicated digital platform focused on promoting destinations for corporate events and facilitating applications for financial incentives.
The portal is expected to make it easier for event organisers, tourism operators and investors to explore opportunities, access incentives and navigate the application process.
Faster Approvals, Investment Support
Addressing industry representatives, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said the state government was committed to creating a transparent and investor-friendly environment for MICE events.
She said the government would work with the private sector to identify administrative hurdles, streamline approvals and consider targeted capital subsidies to encourage investment.
The support will extend beyond corporate conferences to areas such as destination weddings, sports events and cultural and heritage-based programmes.
Odisha’s Heritage as a Tourism Advantage
Parida highlighted Odisha’s rich cultural and historical assets as key attractions for the growing destination-events market.
She said Bhubaneswar’s temples, heritage sites, traditional culture, cuisine and scenic destinations could provide distinctive experiences for corporate groups, wedding planners and younger travellers seeking immersive tourism.
Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh outlined investment opportunities under the Odisha Tourism Investment Policy, emphasising government support for heritage, sports and business events.
Industry Calls for Cultural Integration
Sabbas Joseph, FICCI MICE Tourism Committee Chairman and Co-Founder of Wizcraft Group, presented an industry roadmap aimed at integrating Odisha’s heritage, handicrafts, cuisine and local traditions into conference and hospitality experiences.
Celebrity chef and Odisha’s brand ambassador for Odia cuisine Ranveer Brar stressed that cultural authenticity should remain at the heart of the state’s tourism promotion.
Brar proposed a 100-day mapping exercise to identify potential event venues, local storytellers, traditional recipes, cooks, markets and festivals that could become part of Odisha’s experiential tourism offering.
He also called for greater direct support to indigenous artisans and the use of language and interpretation services to present Odisha’s traditions to domestic and international visitors without compromising their cultural identity.
Odisha Eyes Bigger Share of MICE Tourism
The roundtable brought together government officials, tourism stakeholders and industry representatives to discuss the infrastructure, professional standards and operational systems required to attract major national and international events.
With the new incentive portal, policy support and growing focus on experiential tourism, Odisha is seeking to position itself as a competitive destination for conventions, incentive travel, destination weddings and culturally immersive events.