Bhubaneswar: The seventh edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) will be held from Oct 3 to 5 here, bringing together foreign tour operators from 27 countries and domestic buyers from 32 cities.Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida announced the event on Thursday. The three-day B2B tourism marketplace, organised by the tourism department in partnership with FICCI, will have more than 92 private exhibitors and is expected to facilitate over 6,000 pre-scheduled business meetings.Parida said the state was focusing on expanding tourism beyond hotels and resorts so that its economic benefits reach local communities and small businesses. “Our tagline is ‘Think India, Think Odisha.’ If anyone in the world wishes to invest in India or explore India, they must think of Odisha first,” she said, highlighting the state’s focus on adventure tourism, homestays and hospitality.Eight familiarisation tours have also been planned before and after the bazaar to give tour operators, buyers, media and influencers first-hand exposure to Odisha’s tourism offerings.The tours will cover heritage and spiritual destinations, wildlife and nature, tribal traditions, coastal attractions and experiential tourism. An experience-sharing session by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar will also be held to promote Odisha’s culinary tourism.
