The seventh edition of MP Travel Mart 2026 commenced on October 7 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, at the Kushabhau Thackeray Convention Centre (Minto Hall). The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and is slated to run over four days, gathering key stakeholders from the domestic and international travel sectors.
Buyer-seller meetings are scheduled daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., facilitating business interactions aimed at expanding tourism opportunities. The B2B tourism exhibition officially opened on October 8, under the supervision of Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal and Tourism Ministry Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar.
Thematic and Strategic Discussions on Tourism Development
The event features a special discussion
session titled ‘A Living Landscape of India’s Wildlife: Madhya Pradesh as India’s Wildlife Capital’ targeting the state’s biodiversity promotion. Subsequently, experts conducted round-table discussions centered on positioning Madhya Pradesh as the leading adventure tourism destination in India by 2030, in addition to advancing the state’s role as a conference and exhibition hub to stimulate local economic growth.
International Participation and Cultural Showcase
MP Travel Mart 2026 hosts around 100 delegates representing 34 countries, including the United States, France, Japan, and Italy. The event incorporates a live culinary exhibit named ‘Maa Ki Rasoi,’ showcasing Madhya Pradesh’s distinct cuisine linked to the United Nations’ millet promotion mission.
The menu includes traditional dishes such as kodo-methi bhat, jowar-bajra rotis, dal-bafla, and aubergine bharta.
Familiarisation Tours and Local Experiences
Following the event, 16 familiarisation tours will introduce delegates to Madhya Pradesh’s diverse tourism circuits. More than 200 experts participate in excursions covering the Heritage Circuit (Khajuraho, Orchha, Mandu, Maheshwar, Gwalior, Sanchi, Bhimbetka), Wildlife Circuit (Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura, Kuno Cheetah Sanctuary), Spiritual Circuit (Ujjain Mahakal Mahalok, Omkareshwar Ekatm Dham, Chitrakoot, Amarkantak), and the Adventure Water Tourism Circuit (Pachmarhi, Chanderi, Tawa, Gandhi Sagar). Delegates also experience local offerings in Bhopal, including heritage walks, bird watching in Van Vihar, shikara rides on the Upper Lake,
and wellness yoga sessions.
Tourism Growth and Strategic Objectives
According to Dr Ilaiyaraja T., Secretary, Tourism and Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, tourist arrivals in the state grew by 57 percent in 2025, reaching 21.05 crore visitors. MP Travel Mart 2026 aims to convert this rapid increase into strategic investments, infrastructure development, and sustainable livelihoods within the state’s tourism industry.
