The prestigious event aims to showcase Madhya Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage, historic architecture, biodiversity and natural beauty on the global tourism map. It is set to become the state’s largest and most strategically significant Business-to-Business (B2B) networking platform in the tourism sector.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart on Wednesday, October 7. The inaugural programme will be chaired by Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, Religious Trusts and Endowments (Independent Charge), Shri Dharmendra Singh Lodhi.
Minister Shri Lodhi said that MPTM is not merely a business exhibition, but an important platform for the state’s overall economic development, local employment generation and global cultural exchange. The state government is working towards making Madhya Pradesh India’s leading adventure tourism destination by 2030. At the same time, Madhya Pradesh is being positioned as the ‘Wildlife Capital of India,’ with a strong emphasis on conservation-led and eco-friendly tourism.
Expansion of world-class tourism infrastructure through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, empowerment of local communities through rural homestays, and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and multilingual digital technologies to enhance visitor experiences are among the government’s key priorities.
Secretary Tourism and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Dr. Ilaiyaraaja T., outlined the vision, preparations and strategic objectives of MPTM 2026. He said that as a result of the state government’s progressive tourism policies, Madhya Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented growth in tourism. Tourist footfall registered a historic 57% increase in 2025, reaching 21.05 crore visitors.
MPTM 2026 aims to convert this rapid growth into global investment, modern infrastructure and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Global and national participation
More than 100 international delegates and tourism stakeholders from over 34 countries are participating in MPTM 2026. These include major European markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Bulgaria, Belarus, Albania, Hungary and Slovakia.
From the Americas, participants include representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Asia-Pacific region is represented by tourism stakeholders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. The participation also includes leading tour operators and travel writers from the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Mauritius, Kenya and Russia.
At the national level, more than 1,000 leading domestic tour operators from over 15 states and Union Territories including Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Goa, Haryana, Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir-are participating in the event.
Over 10,000 B2B meetings
One of the key business highlights of the four-day event will be more than 10,000 pre-scheduled B2B meetings. An advanced online scheduling system has been developed to facilitate these interactions.
The platform will enable direct engagement between prominent domestic and international buyers, tour operators, hotel groups, airlines and travel agencies and 355 local tourism stakeholders, including hoteliers, resort operators, heritage property owners, homestay operators and adventure sports providers.
Through both physical and virtual meetings, the event will create opportunities to take Madhya Pradesh’s local tourism products, folk culture, handicrafts and unique travel packages directly to international markets.
Investment opportunities worth over ₹1,100 crore
MPTM 2026 is expected to mark a significant milestone in attracting private investment and accelerating world-class tourism infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh.
Investment proposals and agreements worth more than ₹1,100 crore are being finalised during the event. As part of this initiative, Letters of Award (LOAs) worth ₹252 crore will be formally issued for 14 major projects involving hotels, wellness resorts, luxury tented camps and eco-tourism units across different regions of the state.
LOAs will also be issued for the development of modern Way-side Amenities along three major tourism highways to make road travel for tourists more convenient, safe and comfortable.
The biggest investment highlight will be the ₹848.40-crore mega tourism investment agreement in Ramgarh, Sehore. Under the agreement between the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and M/s A.R.M. Foods Private Limited, an international-standard golf course, golf villas, wellness resort, luxury hotel and high-end hospitality infrastructure will be developed.
The project is expected to give global visibility to the tourism potential of the Vindhya and Malwa regions while generating approximately 920 direct and hundreds of indirect local employment opportunities.
12 Strategic MoUs and agreements
As part of efforts to create a future-ready tourism ecosystem, 12 strategic MoUs, MoAs and agreements will be signed during MPTM 2026.
These include a partnership with the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior, under which 100 tourist vehicle drivers in Bhopal will receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training in safe driving, etiquette and customer service during the first phase.
An agreement with Gram Stay will support the digitalisation of rural tourism by connecting remote rural homestays with global booking platforms.
For adventure and water tourism, an MoU with Royal Enfield will facilitate the identification of new motorcycle riding routes, while the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) will support the development of safety standards. An agreement with NATRAX, Asia’s largest automotive testing track located at Pithampur, will promote motorsports tourism.
Film tourism, digital innovation and heritage conservation
Major initiatives are also being undertaken in the fields of film and digital media.
A non-financial agreement with Artemisia College of Art & Design (ACAD), Indore, will facilitate practical training for students and the creation of a digital asset library. In collaboration with the renowned digital media group The Viral Fever (TVF) and Krarck Family Office, initiatives will be undertaken for film tourism, skill development in the AVGC sector and the establishment of a Museum of Storytelling.
Under the Smart Tourism initiative, 1,000 AI-enabled QR code boards will be installed at 100 major tourist destinations across the state in collaboration with Explurger.
For heritage conservation, an integrated management and landscape conservation plan will be prepared for the Historic Ensemble of Orchha for its UNESCO nomination, in collaboration with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, and DRONAH.
A tripartite agreement will also be signed for upgrading tourism infrastructure and modernising the BSF Museum at the BSF Academy, Tekanpur, Gwalior.
Four-day programme
On October 7, the first day of the Travel Mart, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will hold special one-on-one meetings with invited national and international industrialists, investors and corporate representatives to discuss the future investment potential of Madhya Pradesh.
On October 8, Chief Secretary Shri Ashok Barnwal and Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, will formally inaugurate the B2B Mart and exhibition.
A high-level panel discussion on ‘Madhya Pradesh as the Wildlife Capital of India’ will also be held, featuring renowned environmentalists, forest officials and wildlife experts. Strategic roundtables on adventure tourism and the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industry will also be organised.
On October 9, business meetings will continue, followed by an awards ceremony recognising outstanding exhibition stalls and innovations.
On October 10, from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, the exhibition will be opened free of charge to school and college students, students of tourism institutes and the general public, with the objective of fostering greater awareness and pride in Madhya Pradesh’s tourism heritage.
Multilingual website and digital travel handbook
To enhance accessibility for international visitors, the official website of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board will launch its multilingual version. In addition to Hindi and English, comprehensive tourism information will now be available in German, Spanish, French and Japanese.
An advanced MP Travel Handbook, developed in collaboration with TellMe DigiInfotech. will also be launched. The dynamic digital coffee-table book features 360-degree panoramic views, interactive maps, AI-powered storytelling, virtual reality links and bilingual audio narration.
Special VR experience centres have also been established at the exhibition venue, allowing visitors to experience virtual darshan of the state’s Jyotirlingas and immersive wildlife safari experiences.
Flavours of Madhya Pradesh
To introduce guests to Madhya Pradesh’s distinctive culinary heritage and connect it with the United Nations’ millet promotion mission, a special live counter of ‘Maa Ki Rasoi’ has been set up.
The counter will serve traditional and nutritious delicacies including Kodo-Methi Bhaat, Jowar-Bajra Rotis, Mattha ke Aloo, Chakki ka Saag, Nighona, Malwa-Nimar’s famous Dal-Bafla, Bhune Bhate ka Bharta and freshly prepared Sil-Batta chutneys.
16 FAM trips to showcase Madhya Pradesh
Following the event, 16 special familiarisation (FAM) trips will be organised for international and domestic delegates, involving more than 200 tourism experts.
The delegates will explore the Heritage Circuit covering Khajuraho, Orchha, Mandu, Maheshwar, Gwalior, Sanchi and Bhimbetka; the Wildlife Circuit covering Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura and Kuno Cheetah Sanctuary; the Spiritual Circuit covering Ujjain Mahakal Lok, Omkareshwar Ekatm Dham, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak; and the Adventure and Water Tourism Circuit covering Pachmarhi, Chanderi, Tawa and Gandhi Sagar.
During their stay in Bhopal, delegates will also experience a heritage walk, Van Vihar bird walk, Shikara ride on Upper Lake and wellness-oriented yoga sessions.
The Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2026 is not merely a business gathering; it is a comprehensive initiative aimed at driving the state’s economic growth, environmental conservation, cultural revitalisation and prosperity of local communities. The event is envisioned as a major step towards establishing Madhya Pradesh as a leading global tourism destination in the years ahead.
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