The Government of Odisha has appointed Mr. Deepankar Mohapatra, IAS, as the Director of Tourism, Odisha, entrusting him with the responsibility of steering the state’s tourism sector at a time of growing national and international interest in Odisha as a diverse travel destination.
Mr. Mohapatra, a 2014-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Odisha cadre, was serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Hockey Promotion Council, Odisha, prior to this appointment. Along with his new role as Director of Tourism, he has been allowed to continue holding the additional charge of Managing Director, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC), ensuring continuity in policy implementation and project execution within the tourism ecosystem.
Born on February 11, 1972, Deepankar Mohapatra brings with him a blend of administrative experience, institutional leadership, and cross-sectoral exposure. Over the years, he has held several key positions in the Government of Odisha, contributing to governance reforms, public engagement initiatives, and sectoral development.
Widely regarded as a dynamic and result-oriented officer, Mr. Mohapatra has played a significant role in strengthening sports administration in the state, particularly through his leadership at the Hockey Promotion Council, Odisha. His tenure there reflects the state government’s strategic vision of leveraging sports as a catalyst for youth development, global branding, and community engagement.
In his expanded role covering both tourism and sports administration, Mr. Mohapatra is expected to bring a holistic perspective to destination promotion, infrastructure development, and international outreach. His leadership aligns closely with Odisha’s focus on enhancing heritage tourism, eco-tourism, coastal tourism, sports tourism, and experiential travel, while strengthening institutional coordination between government agencies and private stakeholders.
As Director of Tourism and Managing Director of OTDC, he will be instrumental in driving policy initiatives, destination branding, investment facilitation, and quality upgradation across tourism assets in the state. Industry stakeholders view his appointment as a positive step towards accelerating Odisha’s tourism growth and positioning the state more prominently on the national and global tourism map.
With a leadership style that blends administrative discipline with innovative public engagement, Deepankar Mohapatra, IAS, represents a new generation of civil servants committed to building sustainable tourism, promoting cultural identity, and fostering inclusive economic development in Odisha.
