FICCI’s Global MICE Travel Mart begins in Delhi

The government shall soon roll out its much-awaited National Tourism Policy, expected to provide single window clearance for organisation of meetings and conferences, informed Satyajeet Rajan, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, while addressing the second edition of Global MICE Travel Mart, organised by FICCI jointly with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on September 14 at The Lalit, New Delhi.

He said that there was a need to provide incentives to this sector to make it competitive in the world market. He added that there was a pressing need to conduct a study to assess size of the industry and a consultant was being appointed to suggest a workable roadmap for the development of the sector.

During the inaugural of this mart, which is underway until Sept 16, a FICCI-MRSS Knowledge Paper on ‘MICE Tourism Powerhouse of a New Era Tourism’ was unveiled by the dignitaries. The six-point agenda of the study suggested a six-point roadmap for development of India as a MICE tourism hotspot.

Chander Mansharamani, Vice Chairman, ICPB and Managing Director, Alpcord Network Travel & Conferences Management Company, said that MICE was an economic activity and there was an imperative need for the creation of a market for the sector. Besides, he emphasised on the need for readily available comprehensive database, building capacities and capabilities while taking into account competition to make India a MICE hub. Highlighting the immense potential of MICE tourism in West Bengal, Amitava Rathod, Deputy General Manager, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, said that that with new convention centres projects such as HIDCO, Digha and Bagdogra coming up in the state, West Bengal is bound to lead the country in MICE tourism. Alluding to the business opportunities in Maharashtra, Aashutosh Rathod, Director of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra & Joint Managing Director – Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., said that instead of states competing with one another, there was a need for an integrated approach and closer coordination among the various industry players. Sabbas Joseph, President EEMA and Director, Wizcraft, suggested that some of the states could be aggressively supported in the MICE segment so that their success stores could be replicated across the country. Citing the example, FICCI-IIFA Business Forum, he said that the media and entertainment industry provides a great business opportunity for MICE tourism. Sanjaya Baru, Secretary General, FICCI, said that the government should energise tourism as the sector had the potential to generate employment in large numbers.

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