Bhubaneswar: Odisha became India’s first state to roll out a dedicated MICE Incentive Portal aimed at marketing its destinations for corporate conventions and facilitating applications for financial incentives by event organisers and tourism operators.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida inaugurated the digital mechanism on Sunday during a roundtable on strengthening Odisha’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem, organised jointly by the Tourism Department and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as part of Odisha Travel Bazaar 2026.
Addressing the delegates, Parida said that the administration’s regulatory frameworks and incentives remain fully transparent, serving to empower commercial partners as direct drivers of the state’s economic expansion.
“Our dedicated tourism team works tirelessly to actively reach out, follow up and facilitate project approvals, ensuring a seamless journey for representing the changing face of a progressive Odisha,” the Deputy CM said, emphasising the government’s resolve to expedite approvals across MICE segments, destination weddings, sports events and cultural heritage ventures.
Parida highlighted the emerging domestic market for destination ceremonies and immersive travel, noting a clear cultural movement toward sacred temple weddings and localised experiences. She expressed optimism that Bhubaneswar, the Temple City, can deliver uniquely memorable occasions for younger demographics.
Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department, made a presentation on the Odisha Tourism Investment Policy, outlining concrete commercial opportunities across the state. He stressed that existing policies actively cultivate a business-friendly environment by offering targeted support for heritage, sports, and business events, supported by regular investor outreach and fast-tracked project clearances.
Sabbas Joseph, co-founder of Wizcraft Group and chairman of FICCI MICE Tourism Committee, presented an industry blueprint on leveraging Odisha’s cultural capital. He outlined practical models to blend local customs, artisan traditions, and culinary identity into modern corporate conferences and hospitality programs.
Ranveer Brar, celebrity chef and official brand ambassador for Odia cuisine, focused on cultural authenticity as the defining foundation of the state’s global reputation. He said that high-end travel is increasingly defined by rarity, cultural integrity, and distinct memories rather than sheer expenditure, calling for a comprehensive 100-day mapping campaign to record not just physical event spaces, but local storytellers, recipes, cooks, markets and regional festivals.