Finance
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida launched the Odisha Pavilion at the World Tourism Market (WTM) 2024, which was hosted at London’s Excel Centre.
Notable figures attended the opening ceremony, including the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami; Telangana’s Tourism Minister, Jupli Krishna Rao; and Mugdha Sinha, Director General of Tourism from the Union Ministry of Tourism.
The WTM 2024 congratulated Parida on inaugurating the Odisha Pavilion. She also visited the tourism pavilions of other major states.
Parida led a high-level team to London to promote Odisha tourism, meeting with major investors, stakeholders, and entrepreneurs in the UK. In a discussion with Yashin Zargar, Director of Indus Experience, the delegation discussed how to promote Odisha tourism in the UK.
The crew also spoke with Ramesh Arora, the Founder and CEO of Signature Hospitality Group, and Manish Gupta, Secretary and International Coordinator of the PIO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PIOCCI) and Chairman of PIO TV. These conversations centered on improving the tourism department’s assets, increasing Odisha’s visibility in the European market, and boosting skill development in the hospitality sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Parida was interviewed by prominent UK media outlets, Sky News and the NBC Channel, and she underlined Odisha’s tourist potential and the state government’s policies to promote it.
At a WTM press conference, Parida addressed international media representatives, industry leaders, investors, and delegations, noting that Odisha’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and rich traditions are a significant draw for tourists. She invited UK and European partners and investors to support Odisha tourism and encouraged the Odia diaspora in the UK to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Odisha from January 8-10, aiming to promote Odia culture and foster connections with their heritage.
The Odisha delegation also engaged in discussions with Deepak Deva, Managing Director of SITA, India and Chairman of the FICCI Tourism Sub-Committee. Topics included strategies to promote Odisha’s unique tourist destinations and elevate their global recognition. The delegation explored potential developments in Odisha’s wedding tourism sector with Chetan Bohora, MD of Weddingline Events & Hospitality, a leader in wedding tourism.
In the evening, the delegation hosted a roundtable discussion with 17 wedding and event planners. Samarth Verma, Director of Tourism, spoke on Odisha’s tourism potential, existing infrastructure, and emerging opportunities in wedding tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) to encourage tourism growth. The seminar focused on critical areas for growing Odisha’s tourist sector.
Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of tourist, has invited UK representatives on familiarization (FAM) excursions to promote Odisha’s tourist and wedding sectors. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, also invited UK representatives to participate in Odisha’s planned Make in India initiative.
The Odisha Pavilion, which is open till November 7 at WTM, features prominent destinations including the Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath Temple, Chilika Lake, and Odisha’s pristine beaches and fauna. The pavilion promotes Odisha tourism products such as environmental getaways, nature camps, and water sports. The state government’s active engagement in WTM demonstrates its commitment to forming partnerships with international investors to promote cultural interchange and advance Odisha’s economic growth.
