Mukteswar Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Photo Credit: AdobeStock/Amar
The Odisha government has launched what it describes as India’s first dedicated incentive portal for MICE, seeking to attract business events while simplifying access to state support.
Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida unveiled the portal on Sunday during the Odisha Travel Bazaar 2026, following a roundtable on strengthening the state’s MICE ecosystem. The event brought together government officials and industry representatives, according to local media reports.
The portal provides a dedicated digital mechanism to promote Odisha for corporate conventions.
It also streamlines applications for financial incentives from event organisers and tourism operators.
The launch builds on the Odisha Tourism (Amendment) Policy, 2026. Official operational guidelines issued by the state Tourism Department on 3 June set out incentives for the MICE industry and destination weddings, providing the policy framework behind the new application channel.
MICE incentives
Under the guidelines, eligible applicants include event managers, destination management companies, tour operators, hotel owners, wedding planners, as well as clients or event owners. Qualifying conferences, exhibitions and similar large-scale events must be held in Odisha and meet the stipulated accommodation requirement in recognised three-star or higher tourism units.
For events held during the “lean season”, from 1 April to 30 September, the Tourism Department offers 1,000 Indian rupees (US$10.30) per room per day. Organisers must book at least 100 rooms a day in three-star or higher hotels recognised by the Ministry of Tourism or the Odisha Tourism Department, and at least half of the occupants each day must be participants from outside Odisha. The payout is limited to rooms occupied by out-of-state participants.
State doubles down on support
Parida added that the government is working to speed approvals for MICE events, destination weddings, sports events and cultural-heritage ventures. She also highlighted Bhubaneswar’s temples and monuments, local cultural experiences and regional cuisine as assets that could support distinctive events and experiential travel.
Tourism Secretary Balwant Singh told the gathering that state policy offers targeted support for heritage, sports and business events, alongside investor outreach and faster project clearances. The government also said it would consider private-sector recommendations and address administrative bottlenecks as it seeks to expand Odisha’s business-tourism market.