Odisha launches India’s first dedicated MICE Incentive Portal to boost business tourism, attract events and promote conferences, exhibitions and destination weddings
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government on Sunday launched India’s first dedicated Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Incentive Portal as part of efforts to position the state as a major destination for corporate meetings, conferences, incentive travel and exhibitions.
The portal was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida at a roundtable discussion on creating a robust MICE policy for Odisha, organised by the Tourism Department in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Mayfair Sanctuary.
Held as part of the Odisha Travel Bazaar 2026, the meeting brought together senior government officials, industry leaders and tourism stakeholders to discuss opportunities for expanding the state’s MICE ecosystem.
Odisha has become the first state in the country to establish a dedicated digital mechanism to market its destinations for corporate conventions and streamline applications for financial incentives by event organisers and tourism operators, officials said.
Parida said the government was committed to transparent regulations and incentives and would work to expedite approvals for MICE events, destination weddings, sports events and cultural heritage projects.
She highlighted Odisha’s temples, Buddhist heritage, coastline, landscapes, cuisine and cultural traditions as potential attractions for business events and destination weddings.
Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh outlined investment opportunities under the Odisha Tourism Investment Policy and highlighted incentives for heritage, sports and business events.
Sabbas Joseph, co-founder of Wizcraft Group and chair of the FICCI MICE Tourism Committee, suggested ways of integrating Odisha’s cultural traditions, crafts and cuisine into corporate events and hospitality programmes.
Celebrity chef and Odisha cuisine brand ambassador Ranveer Brar stressed the importance of cultural authenticity. He proposed a 100-day mapping exercise to identify not only event venues but also local storytellers, recipes, cooks, markets and festivals that could enrich visitor experiences.
The roundtable also discussed the infrastructure, professional services and operational guidelines needed to attract national and international conventions and experiential tourism programmes to Odisha.