Raipur to Host Central India Connect Marketplace 2026 on World Tourism Day, AI and Technology in Focus
On World Tourism Day, tourism operators from across Chhattisgarh will come together with travel companies, destination representatives and other industry stakeholders from India and overseas in Raipur. The third edition of the Central India Connect Marketplace 2026 will be held on September 27 at Mayfair Lake Resort, Raipur, with a focus on connecting local tourism businesses with the wider travel trade and exploring the growing role of AI and technology in tourism.
Presented by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board in association with the Chhattisgarh Travel Trade Association (CGTTA), the marketplace will bring together businesses operating across different segments of the tourism sector, including local ground operators, emerging tourism enterprises, travel agents, tour operators, hospitality companies and destination representatives.
Local Tourism Operators to Connect with Wider Travel Trade
One of the key objectives of this year’s marketplace is to provide local tourism businesses with a direct platform to connect with the larger domestic and international travel industry.
Tourism operators from Bastar, Surguja, Tatamari, Kawardha, Korba and Rajnandgaon, among other parts of Chhattisgarh, are expected to participate alongside travel businesses and destination representatives connected with national and international markets.
The participating local operators will have an opportunity to showcase their tourism experiences, destinations and travel products to travel professionals and potential business partners.
For businesses operating at the grassroots level, the marketplace is aimed at creating meaningful industry connections that can help take locally developed tourism products and experiences to a wider market.
AI and Technology Take Centre Stage
AI and technology will have a significant presence at the 2026 edition, particularly as the marketplace coincides with World Tourism Day.
The organisers plan to introduce tourism professionals to emerging technologies and discuss how AI and digital tools can be applied in areas such as marketing, customer engagement, business operations and travel services.
Jasprit Singh Bhatia, Chairman, Central India Connect Marketplace 2026, said the third edition is being expanded while continuing its core objective of bringing the travel trade together and creating stronger business connections.
CGTTA is also looking to bring technology companies and experts on board for the event, including speakers who can share practical insights into the use of AI and technology in tourism.
The association also plans to continue the technology-focused conversation beyond the marketplace, with regular sessions involving experts and industry speakers being considered throughout the year. These sessions are intended to help tourism professionals understand emerging technologies and keep pace with developments across the travel industry.
Focus on Year-Round Learning
For CGTTA, the marketplace is part of a broader effort to create regular learning and networking opportunities for the travel trade.
As technology continues to influence how travellers discover destinations, plan their journeys and communicate with tourism businesses, continued learning is becoming increasingly relevant for travel professionals.
CGTTA plans to collaborate with technology professionals and industry experts for sessions throughout the year. These programmes will focus on new tools, emerging trends, AI applications and practical industry knowledge, helping tourism businesses understand and adapt to changes in the sector.
The third edition of the Central India Connect Marketplace 2026 comes with a dual focus — providing Chhattisgarh’s local tourism businesses with greater access to the wider travel trade while opening up a practical conversation around AI, technology and the future of tourism.
By bringing grassroots tourism operators together with national and international travel stakeholders, the event aims to create new business connections, strengthen industry networking and provide locally developed tourism products and experiences with a larger platform.
