The capital city is all set to host the 3rd edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar(OTB) from tomorrow. The Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha in partnership with FICCI will be organising this seven day summit from October 14-20, 2019 at Bhubaneswar,Odisha.OTB will showcase the states tourism potential and exclusively focus on the business of inbound and domestic tourists this season.
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate the OTB 2019 summit. The state will host 25 leading Foreign Tour Operators from across 15 countries, 60 leading Domestic Tour Operators from across 19 cities in India, as well as international airline and travel writer-all of whom will engage in B2B meetings with the tourism fraternity of the state comprising 50 tour operators and hoteliers from Odisha who will be participating as Sellers to showcase and market the tourism products of Odisha, along with Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Odisha Tourism.
Minister for Tourism and Culture of the state Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi said the event is a culmination of Odisha Tourism’s proactive outreach, to stakeholders of the tourism and hospitality sector, through a series of roadshows and landmark events including world’s largest tourism trade fair ITB Berlin, WTM London and the Great Indian Travel Bazaar, Jaipur.
“We have conducted several domestic and international roadshows showcasing our offerings and the response was great. Tour operators from the places have been invited to the event,” he added.
As part of the event, foreign and domestic tour operators will be taken on FAM trips to familiarise them on tourism destinations. A three-day Buyer-Seller meet has also been planned from October 18 to enable domestic and international collaborations in business opportunities presented by Odisha Tourism and hospitality sector.
Tourism Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev said three FAM tours
have been planned focusing on Ethnic tourism, Golden Triangle and Buddhist
sites in the state’s predominantly tribal, central and southern regions.
“The FAM tour is expected to enhance the participants’ destination
awareness to enable them to develop and promote diverse tourism products
and packages,” he added.
While the first tour will cover Puri, Konark,Shanti stupa, Raghurajpur heritage village, the Diamond Triangle of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri & Udayagiri, a famous Buddhist site and Bhitarkanika National Park, the second tour will cover the Golden Triangle of Odisha and Chilika lagoon which is the heart of the state’s tourism epicentre.
Similarly, the third and final leg of the tour will cover ethnic tourism circuit which includes Chatikona tribal market, Onkadeli and Desia Eco Resort in addition to the visit of the landscapes of Koraput, Jeypore and Malkanagiri districts.
Co-chairman of FICCI’s national tourism committee as well as Chairman of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO)JK Mohanty said foreign tour operators from Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Netherland, USA, Ukraine and UK have been invited.
“The event will not only promote the tourism potential of the state but also attract investment opportunities for development of tourism infrastructure of the state,” he anticipated.
Around 2400 pre-scheduled B2B meetings have been planned between the Buyers and Sellers at Sellers’ booths in three days of OTB 2019.
