Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, Jan 13: Tourism India Alliance (TIA) successfully concluded the 2026 edition of its flagship Tourism Exchange (TEX 2026), held from January 8 to 10 at the Mayfair Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha. The three-day event brought together over 300 delegates and more than 30 exhibitors from across India and overseas, reinforcing TEX’s position as one of the country’s most comprehensive and influential tourism platforms.
TEX 2026 served as a strong forum for collaboration, dialogue and business development, uniting state tourism boards, global tourism bodies, industry leaders and travel companies to collectively shape the future of India’s tourism landscape. This year’s edition placed a sharp focus on destination diversification, sustainability, innovation and the promotion of lesser-known yet high-potential regions. The event was supported by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, further underlining its national relevance and industry significance.
Throughout the event, tourism experts highlighted the need to promote the distinct identity and uniqueness of emerging destinations such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Industry leaders noted that destinations like Gopalpur-on-Sea remain relatively unexplored despite their strong potential, with Odisha offering diverse tourism experiences spanning serene beaches, eco-tourism, Buddhist circuits, culture, heritage and tribal tourism capable of attracting both domestic and international travellers.
Discussions also highlighted Chhattisgarh’s focus on sustainable tourism development, with the state having taken several steps to strengthen its tourism ecosystem, including granting industry status to tourism in 2024 and introducing a dedicated homestay policy.
Poonam Sharma, DGM, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, said,
“Platforms like TEX provide an important opportunity for stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue around sustainable and inclusive tourism development. Chhattisgarh has been working towards strengthening its tourism ecosystem through policy support and responsible tourism initiatives, and such platforms help amplify these efforts at a national level.”
Jagdeep Bhagat, President, Tourism India Alliance, said,
“The tourism destinations in Odisha now need focused promotion at both the national and international level. Several lesser-known destinations such as Gopalpur have immense potential, and TEX 2026 was deliberately hosted here to draw attention to these hidden gems and encourage stakeholders to explore and invest in them.”
The event featured a robust knowledge programme with expert-led sessions covering artificial intelligence in tourism, leadership and motivation for the travel trade, GST and compliance frameworks, the evolution of luxury travel in India, and inbound tourism growth.
Another major highlight of the event was the Tourism India Alliance Awards for Excellence in Tourism 2026, which recognised outstanding achievements across multiple categories, celebrating innovation, leadership, sustainability and technology-driven initiatives across the tourism sector.
Building on the momentum of TEX 2026, Tourism India Alliance announced that the next edition of the Tourism Exchange will be held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, from January 7 to 9, 2027, further strengthening the platform’s focus on promoting emerging destinations across India.
With the successful conclusion of TEX 2026, Tourism India Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening India’s tourism ecosystem by fostering collaboration, promoting sustainable development and enabling long-term growth pathways. The event marked another significant milestone in TIA’s ongoing efforts to position India as a diverse, resilient and globally competitive tourism destination.