Central India Connect Chhattisgarh Marketplace-2026 organized on World Tourism Day
Raipur, On the occasion of World Tourism Day, 'Central India Connect Chhattisgarh Marketplace-2026' was organized at Mayfair Lake View Resort, Nava Raipur, under the joint auspices of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board and Chhattisgarh Travel Trade Association. The objective of the event was to connect Chhattisgarh's tourist destinations with the domestic and international tourism market, promote tourism business, and bring together various stakeholders of the tourism industry on one platform to increase the number of tourists in the state. Tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, home-stay operators from various states including Chhattisgarh, especially neighboring states, and representatives of foreign tour agencies participated in the program.
The program was graced by the presence of Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Rajesh Agarwal as the chief guest. The program was presided over by the Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Shri Nilu Sharma. On this occasion, Secretary, Tourism Department Dr. S. Bharidason, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Shri Saumil Ranjan Choubey, National President, Alliance India Association Shri Jagdeep Bhagat, President, Chhattisgarh Travel Trade Association Shri Jaspreet Bhatia, Shri Kapil Jain, Collector, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi Shri Vijay Dayaram K., GM, Hotel Mayfair Shri Nilesh, CEO, Zila Panchayat GPM Shri Mukesh Rawate, along with representatives from the tourism industry, media representatives, and officials-employees of the Tourism Board were present.
Emphasis on connecting tourism with employment and local economy
In his address, Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Rajesh Agarwal said that tourism is not just a medium for sightseeing, but an important sector connecting nature, culture, history, heritage, and the local economy. Chhattisgarh possesses diverse tourism assets like the vibrant tribal culture of Bastar, the natural beauty of Surguja, waterfalls like Chitrakote and Tirathgarh, the historical and archaeological heritage of Sirpur, the religious faith of Rajim, the architectural art of Bhoramdev, and the wildlife of Barnawapara.
He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the state government is continuously working towards giving Chhattisgarh a distinct identity on the national and international tourism map. The objective of tourism development is not only to increase the number of tourists but also to create new employment opportunities for local youth, economic empowerment for women, markets for artisans and artists, and new livelihood opportunities for rural and tribal communities.
Shri Agarwal said that the 'Central India Connect Chhattisgarh Marketplace' is an important platform for connecting tourism businesses with domestic and international tourism markets. This will help in increasing business partnerships, connecting with new tourism markets, developing new tour packages, and reaching more tourists to Chhattisgarh's tourist destinations. He also mentioned projects like the Film City under construction in Raipur, Bhoramdev Corridor, and tourism development in the Mayali area of Jashpur.
Tourism Board Chairman explained the objective of the event
Chairman of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Shri Nilu Sharma, said that this event is not just a festival or a formal program, but a significant effort to take Chhattisgarh's tourism to new heights. By bringing together tourism businesses and various stakeholders from India and abroad on one platform, efforts are being made to strengthen business relationships and give Chhattisgarh a new identity at the national and international level.
He stated that travel agents and tour operators play a crucial role in tourism development. Opportunities for creating new tourism packages and developing business partnerships have been created through B2B meetings. He called upon travel agents to include Chhattisgarh's tourist destinations in their tour packages and to cooperate in promoting the state's tourism potential to the country and the world.
Over 400 travel agencies joined the Tourism Board
Shri Nilu Sharma informed that through roadshows and participation in various national tourism events in major cities like Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Chennai, Chhattisgarh's natural beauty, culture, historical heritage, and tourism facilities have been promoted. As a result of these efforts, more than 400 travel agencies have joined the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board. He said that this network will be further expanded in the coming times.
Emphasis on giving new direction to tourism with digital technology and AI
In his presentation, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Shri Saumil Ranjan Choubey, presented the possibilities of Chhattisgarh tourism in the context of the World Tourism Day 2026 theme 'Sustainable Tourism and Inclusive Development'. He said that there is a need for continuous learning, experimentation, and exploration of new possibilities in the tourism sector. The use of digital technology and artificial intelligence can be an effective medium for tourism-related information, promotion, tourist experience, content creation, and increasing accessibility to tourist destinations.
The presentation detailed Chhattisgarh's natural wealth, waterfalls, wildlife, caves, tribal culture, community tourism, home-stays, adventure tourism, and historical and archaeological heritage. The potential of tourist and heritage sites such as Chitrakote, Tirathgarh, Kutumsar-Kailash-Dandak Caves, Mainpat, Jashpur, Bastar Dussehra, Sirpur, Bhoramdev, Dholkal Ganesh, Narayanpal, and Malhar was highlighted.
He informed that along with granting industry status to tourism, efforts are being made to strengthen the infrastructure for tourism development. Work is being done to identify more than 280 rooms for 82 beneficiaries for home-stays, for digital reservations through the Tourism Board's website and mobile app, and to increase market reach through investor meetings and roadshows. Various initiatives including the Sirpur Integrated Development Plan, Shaktipith Corridor, Destination Signage, and Facilities are in progress.
Work towards connecting local communities with tourism
Secretary, Tourism Department, Dr. S. Bharidason, said that tourism must be considered not just as a subject of travel, but as a medium for development, employment, and economic empowerment. Special attention needs to be paid to providing employment and income opportunities by connecting local communities with tourism. He stated that Chhattisgarh's historical heritage, cultural legacy, and natural wealth must be transformed into better tourism products and packages, and tourism partnerships must be developed with other states and countries.
Dr. Bharidason emphasized that the objective of today's event should not be limited to discussion, but the new contacts and partnerships formed here should be converted into actual tourism development. There is a need for extensive promotion of Chhattisgarh's tourist destinations through digital marketing and social media.
New direction with tourism gaining industry status
President of Chhattisgarh Travel Trade Association, Shri Jaspreet Bhatia, expressed his pleasure that such an important event is being held again after a gap of about three years. He said that granting industry status to tourism in Chhattisgarh has given a new direction to the development of this sector. Dynamism, timeliness, and better implementation are necessary in the field of tourism, and the government, tourism department, and all stakeholders must work together.
Participation of the tourism industry seen in a national-international format
Promotional stalls were set up by various tour operators, hoteliers, and tourism organizations at the event venue. Along with the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi and Dhamtari district administrations also set up stalls to promote their tourist destinations. The participation of tourism businesses from various states of the country and neighboring states, along with foreign tour agencies, gave the event a broad scope.
A B2B meeting was organized between travel agents and other tourism stakeholders. Discussions were held on tourism packages, business partnerships, bringing tourist groups to Chhattisgarh, and exploring possibilities of connecting the state's tourist destinations with national and international markets. Thus, the event served as an important business connect platform for stakeholders connected to the national-international tourism market on the occasion of World Tourism Day.
Honoring those who have excelled in the tourism sector
In the program, state-level awards were presented to tourism stakeholders who have excelled in the field of tourism. The awards were presented by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Rajesh Agarwal. Best Tourism District Promotion Award was given to Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi, Best Eco Tourism Site Award to Takshak Bhoramdev, Best Hotel Award to Ambition Jagdalpur, Best Tour Operator Award to D. Ramesh Camp Ones, Best Tourism Startup Award to Shri Shivam Trivedi of Heritage Wala, Best Adventure Tour Operator Award to Shri Saurabh Singh of Trippy Hills, Jashpur, and Best Home-Stay Award to Shri Mansingh of Dhurva Dera.
In the same sequence, the Best Influencer award was given to Shri Anupam Sinha, the Best Tourist Information Center/Star Performer CTB award to Shri Srinivas Rao and team of Dongargarh, and the Best Star Performer Resort CTB award to Shri Subhash Thakur and team of Eco Hareli Resort, Barnawapara. A check of ₹11,000, a memento, and a certificate were presented with all awards. During the program, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Rajesh Agarwal, also released a coffee table book based on the archaeological sites of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district.