Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: The Odisha government today convened the first meeting of the State Tourism Advisory Council (STAC) in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida to deliberate on strategic priorities and a comprehensive roadmap for positioning Odisha as a premier, sustainable and responsible global tourism destination.

Addressing the Council, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the pivotal role of tourism in achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Odisha 2036’ and contributing to the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Highlighting Odisha’s rich tourism potential, encompassing its historical and spiritual heritage, coastline, Buddhist sites, biodiversity, tribal traditions, handicrafts and natural landscapes, she underlined the sector's potential to generate employment, strengthen local livelihoods and preserve the state's cultural heritage.

The meeting deliberated on key priorities for strengthening Odisha's tourism ecosystem, with particular emphasis on diversifying tourism experiences through eco-tourism, heritage and religious tourism, adventure tourism, MICE tourism, destination weddings and new tourism circuits.

The creation of a Tourism Land Bank, upgradation of infrastructure and basic amenities at major destinations, improved connectivity, accommodation facilities, tourist safety, sanitation and skilled manpower development also featured in the discussions.

The Council further discussed measures to facilitate private investment through effective inter-departmental coordination and simplification of regulatory approvals, including building permissions, Fire NOCs, licences and other statutory clearances. The importance of robust Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and greater participation of tourism and hospitality stakeholders in accelerating sectoral growth was also highlighted.

The meeting also discussed Odisha's international tourism outreach initiatives, particularly Odisha Parab, scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia, on November 23 and 24, 2026. The event will provide an international platform to showcase Odisha's art, culture, handicrafts, cuisine and diverse tourism offerings, while enhancing the state's global tourism profile.

The deliberations also focused on strengthening the role of STAC as an effective institutional mechanism for policy guidance, stakeholder consultation, actionable recommendations and time-bound implementation of tourism initiatives, in alignment with the ‘Think India, Think Odisha’ vision.

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Tourism Secretary Balwant Singh presented the department's vision document and outlined the strategic direction for the state's tourism sector. Director of Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra, Special Secretary Lipsa Das, Chairman of HRAO J. K. Mohanty, General Manager of OTDC Dharmendra Mallick and Additional Secretary Dr. Rudra Narayan Das, along with prominent representatives from the tourism and hospitality sector, participated in the deliberations and shared their perspectives on strengthening Odisha's tourism ecosystem.

The first meeting of STAC marks an important step towards institutionalising stakeholder engagement and fostering coordinated efforts for sustainable, inclusive and investment-led tourism development in Odisha.