The MP Travel Mart 2026 commenced on October 7 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, hosting around 100 participants from 34 countries including the United States, France, Japan, and Italy. The four-day event at Kushabhau Thackeray Convention Centre (Minto Hall) focuses on business-to-business (B2B) networking involving buyer-seller meetings held daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buyer-Seller Meetings and Tourism Exhibition Inauguration
On October 8, the Tourism Ministry Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar and Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal inaugurated the B2B buyer-seller meetings and launched a tourism exhibition. The exhibition theme, “A Living Landscape of India’s Wildlife: Madhya Pradesh as India’s Wildlife Capital,” opened alongside strategic discussions scheduled for the
afternoon.
International Participation and Official Inaugurations
The event marks its seventh edition as Madhya Pradesh’s largest tourism networking platform. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav officially inaugurated the mart on October 7. Delegates from 34 countries are exchanging tourism packages and collaborating with Indian tour operators to promote Madhya Pradesh’s travel offerings.
Tourism Growth and Government Statements
Dr. Ilaiyaraja T., Secretary of Tourism and Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, reported a 57% increase in tourist arrivals in 2025, totaling 21.05 crore visitors. The MP Travel Mart aims to leverage this rapid growth by attracting global investments, developing modern tourism infrastructure, and creating sustainable livelihoods across the state.
Cultural Offerings and Familiarisation Tours
The
event features a live culinary counter named “Maa Ki Rasoi” offering traditional Madhya Pradesh cuisine linked with the United Nations’ millet promotion mission, including dishes such as kodo-methi bhat, jowar-bajra rotis, and dal-bafla. Post-event, 16 familiarisation tours will be conducted for over 200 tourism experts to explore four distinct circuits: Heritage, Wildlife, Spiritual, and Adventure Water Tourism.
The Heritage Circuit covers Khajuraho, Orchha, Mandu, Maheshwar, Gwalior, Sanchi, and Bhimbetka. The Wildlife Circuit includes Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, and Kuno Cheetah Sanctuary. The Spiritual Circuit encompasses Ujjain Mahakal Mahalok, Omkareshwar Ekatm Dham, Chitrakoot, and Amarkantak. The Adventure Water Tourism Circuit
involves Pachmarhi, Chanderi, Tawa, and Gandhi Sagar.
Delegates in Bhopal are participating in heritage walks, Van Vihar bird walks, shikara rides on the Upper Lake, and wellness yoga sessions, providing direct engagement with local tourism assets.
Strategic Goals and Round-Table Discussions
The MP Travel Mart 2026 includes round-table discussions focused on positioning Madhya Pradesh as India’s top adventure destination by 2030 and developing the state as a hub for conferences and exhibitions. Emphasis is on using the tourism surge to enhance the economy and infrastructure sustainably.
