India is rapidly positioning itself to emerge as the global capital for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events, a vision underscored by the country’s burgeoning infrastructure and strategic development in the tourism sector. This optimistic outlook was articulated by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, during his inauguration of a two-day seminar titled “India: The Land of Exponential Growth.” The event, organized by the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA), the apex national body for the exhibition industry, saw the participation of approximately 700 leading industry players and decision-makers from the exhibition sector.
Minister Shekhawat emphasized that, MICE tourism is swiftly becoming one of the most vital and fastest-growing segments within India’s broader tourism landscape. He pointed to the construction of state-of-the-art exhibition and conference complexes across the nation, citing examples in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Jaipur, as well as smaller cities that have seen development post-G20 events. “The exhibition and conference infrastructure we see across the nation indicates that India is standing at the threshold of strong possibilities for this sector,” he stated.
Mr. Shekhawat stressed the imperative for collaborative efforts between the government and the private exhibition industry to solidify India’s position as a MICE tourism hub. He highlighted the potential for global events to be calendared and hosted in India, noting that beyond being a general tourism destination, the country is evolving into a significant exhibition and conference center. This transformation is supported by planned expansions across the road, aviation, and railway sectors, which, alongside the growth in conference and exhibition facilities, promise a robust future for economic growth.
Reflecting on recent developmental strides, Mr. Shekhawat remarked, “After 2014, India has shown a tremendous growth curve in infrastructure, be it the construction of roads over 150,000 km, new railway stations, semi high-speed trains, inland waterways, and more than 150 operational airports. All of these have contributed to India’s prowess with regards to MICE events.” He also highlighted the surge in confidence following India’s successful hosting of the G20 nations, asserting that “the entire world is looking at India in awe and curiosity. In times to come, India will emerge as the MICE capital of the world.”
Sooraj Dhawan, President of the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA), elaborated on the significance of the event. “The IEIA Open Seminar and Exhibition Services Expo is the annual international conclave of the Indian Exhibition Industry, attended by the captains of the industry from all regions of the country and overseas,” Dhawan explained. He added that the event serves as a unique and meaningful platform for business networking, knowledge exchange, and discussions on emerging trends shaping the industry’s future.
Dhawan noted that the 14th edition of the IEIA Open Seminar was expected to draw over 700 leading industry players at decision-maker levels, including prominent exhibition and event organizers, heads of various trade bodies, sectoral associations, and key government entities. He proudly stated that “India is the fastest growing exhibition market in the world and has grown at 40% post-Covid.” Dhawan also highlighted the significant economic contribution of the exhibition industry to India, valued at ₹50,000 crores, with business generated through exhibitions reaching ₹300,000 crores.
Defining MICE, Dhawan explained, “The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) refers to a specialized segment of the tourism and hospitality industry focused on organizing and hosting business events.” He made a compelling appeal to the government, urging them “to announce October 1 as the National MICE Day as further boosting the morale of the industry.”
The MICE industry, often referred to as the event industry, has gained increasing recognition over the past decades as a crucial market segment and a substantial contributor to national economies. It not only boosts the economy through income generation but also creates vast employment opportunities across related hospitality sectors such as accommodation, food and beverage services, convention services, transportation, tourism, and entertainment.
The seminar witnessed the presence of several distinguished individuals, including Mr. Premjeet Lal, Executive Director, ITPO; Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Managing Director, India Expo Mart; Mr. Jagdish Patanakar, Honorary Secretary, IEIA; and Mr. Ravinder Sethi, Vice President, IEIA, all underscoring the collective effort to propel India to the forefront of the global MICE landscape.
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