{
  "id": 10151386,
  "title": "Bhubaneswar Airport Gets An AI-Themed Sand Art By Sudarsan Pattnaik; See Stunning Creation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/bhubaneswar-airport-gets-an-ai-themed-sand-art-by-sudarsan-pattnaik",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-27T05:36:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/bhubaneswar-airport-gets-an-ai-themed-sand-art-by-sudarsan-pattnaik-see-stunning-creation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 27, Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar celebrated World Tourism Day 2026 with a unique sand art installation by celebrated sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik. The artwork, titled \"Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,\" showcased the growing impact of technology and artificial intelligence on the tourism industry.\n\nPattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee, created a striking sand sculpture featuring several elements of Odisha's cultural and architectural heritage. At the center, a large, intricately carved wheel represented the country's movement and progress, while temples and traditional structures adorned the sides of the artwork. The piece prominently displayed the words \"World Tourism Day 2026\" across its surface.\n\nBy merging traditional motifs with a focus on digital technology, Pattnaik highlighted the evolving landscape of the tourism sector. The combination of heritage-inspired imagery with a theme centered on artificial intelligence reflected how advancements in technology are reshaping the way people experience and explore destinations worldwide.\n\nWorld Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27, serves to underscore the social, cultural, and economic significance of tourism. The day marks the establishment of the United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) statutes in 1970. Each year, countries around the globe host conferences, trade shows, and local events to emphasize the importance of tourism in fostering global collaboration and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both tourists and local residents.\n\nThis year's World Tourism Day theme, \"Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,\" emphasizes the role of AI and digital tools in personalized trip planning, instant translation, and customer service.",
  "summary": "Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik International Airport has added a creative touch to the celebration of World Tourism Day 2026, with renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creating an intricate sand artwork centred on the future of tourism. The artwork features the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”, highlighting the growing role of technology and artificial…",
  "key_points": [
    "Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar hosted World Tourism Day 2026 event.",
    "Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created AI-themed sand art titled Digital Agenda.",
    "Artwork merged Odisha's cultural heritage with artificial intelligence theme."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}