Industry leaders and policymakers at the Tourism Exchange (TEX 2026) have called for a strategic shift in how states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh market their tourism potential.
Speaking at the annual event organised by the Tourism India Alliance (TIA), a body working on the development of tourism in India at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, experts emphasised that the future of these regions lies in promoting their uniqueness and undiscovered gems to a global audience.
“Many of the participants are visiting Gopalpur sea beach town for the first time because when we talk about Odisha, people think about Puri, Konark or a few other places. But we have such beautiful and calm beaches in Odisha where tourists are eager to visit and spend some quality time,” said Rajeev Kohli, a senior executive of a travel firm.
Kohli suggested that states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh must pinpoint their most distinctive features and market them more aggressively to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
He highlighted that Odisha possesses immense potential across beach tourism, eco-tourism, Buddhist circuits, and heritage sites, alongside its rich tribal culture, all of which could be leveraged to draw a higher volume of domestic and international visitors.
Addressing the event, Poonam Sharma from Chhattisgarh Tourism Board emphasised the state’s commitment to sustainable tourism development.
She noted that Chhattisgarh granted industry status to tourism in 2024 and introduced a dedicated homestay policy, among other strategic initiatives aimed at building a robust and comprehensive tourism ecosystem.
Tourism India Alliance president Jagdeep Bhagat said the tourism destinations in Odisha now need promotion at the local and international level.
“I have visited Odisha several times but never been to Gopalpur, which has a peaceful beach. Several tourism spots like Taratarini, Jirang (known as Little Tibet) are located within 100 km from here. Such places need promotion, for which we have selected the beach town to organise our annual event,” he said.
Bhagat urged the Odisha government and private stakeholders to continue exploring and developing such hidden gems.
The TEX 2026 event, held from January 8 to 10, served as a collaborative hub for state tourism departments, international travel bodies, industry veterans, and travel agencies to discuss the future of the sector.
