The second edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister on Friday at Mayfair Convention in Bhubaneswar. The three-day event will showcase Odisha's cultural heritage and tourism potential. It will involve participation from 60 foreign tour operators from 23 countries and 16 domestic tour operators, who will interact with 56 Odisha travel sellers. The goal is to promote Odisha's tourism internationally and within the country.

1. Travel Bazar Bonanza

2. Tourism Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev said
that the curtains will go up on the second
edition of the Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB),
with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,
inaugurating the three-day event at Mayfair
Convention, here on Friday.

3. The rich cultural heritage and tourism
potential of the state will be showcased
during the three-day mega travel bazaar,
organized by the Department of Tourism and
FICCI.

4. This year's OTB will witness the participation
of 60 Foreign Tour Operators from 23
countries like Australia, Austria, Bulgaria,
China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand, Netherlands, the UK, the USA.

5. And 16 leading Domestic Tour Operators from
Ahmedabad, Chennai, Coimbatore, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot,
Ranchi, Varanasi and Visakapatnam, who will
congregate to interact and engage themselves
with 56 sellers.

6. These sellers comprising of travel agencies
and hoteliers from Odisha to showcase and
sell the Odisha travel product internationally
and within the country, informed Mr.Dev here
at a Press Conference today.

7. Invited Foreign Tour Operators, Domestic Tour
Operators have been taken on pre-event
Familiarization (FAM) Trips in different tourist
locations of Odisha to experience the richness
and vibrancy of the state.

8. Apart from the FAM trip and one to one
business meetings the FTO's & DTO's will be
taken to local sightseeing of Bhubaneswar. A
special light and sound show will be organised
at Dhauli for them, he added.

9. A presentation on 'Odisha Tourism' will be
made by the Director of Tourism on the
inaugural day.

10. A special panel discussion on "Taking Odisha
Tourism to the next level" will be held during
the event. The panelists will comprise of
leading stakeholders from the Tourism
industry of Odisha, leading Foreign tour
Operators and Domestic tour Operators.

11. Stating that Tourism in Odisha is an important
component of the State economy with the
sector contributing approximately 13% of
the state’s GDP, Dev said that this time, the
State Tourism Department has given special
emphasis on Heritage, Culture & Tribal
Tourism, Buddhist Tourism, Art & Craft, Eco &
Wildlife Tourism and Pilgrimage tourism.

12. He was also hopeful that e-Tourist Visa will be
carried out before World Cup Hockey,
schedule;ed to be held at Kalinga Stadium
here from November 28 to December 16.

13. In recent years, national and international
tourist flow in the state has been going up
with the declaration of Bhubaneswar airport
as an international airport. The recent MoU
between the State Government and Air Asia
ensures larger tourist footfalls from South
East Asia in the state.

14. The state is also boosting the long coastlines,
scenic eco-tourism site and rich legacy of
handloom and handicrafts as well as
pilgrimage sites for Buddhism and Hinduism.

15. The recent development of the commercial
airport at Jharsuguda will serve as a major
connectivity with the western part of Odisha
and further boost tourism in western Odisha,
said State Tourism Director Archana
Pattanaik.

16. Additionally, Odisha is all set to host the 14th
edition of the Hockey World Cup in November
2018 in which 16 world teams will be
participating followed by a series of cultural
events poised to attract huge number of
tourists to the State.

17. Among others, HARAO President JK Mohanty
and FICCI Representative Rahul Chakrabarti
spoke to the Members of the Media.

18. THANK YOU
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