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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Wedding & MICE Conclave calls for policy to position Kerala as foremost destination in the segment
KOCHI: India's first Wedding and MICE Conclave concluded in Kochi on Saturday with stakeholders calling for a comprehensive policy framework that helps Kerala emerge as the country's foremost destination in this fast-growing segment by leveraging the state's niche strengths as a global tourism brand. Kerala Tourism Director Sikha Surendran, while inaugurating the valedictory session of the August 14-16 meet, said suggestion had come from the participants for the formation of MICE Promotion Bureaus in the state's major cities, beginning with Kochi. The state must also draw up a strategic global marketing and communications plan that showcases its core strengths as the most ideal MICE destination of India, she noted, as the event organised by the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society in association with the state's Department of Tourism drew to a close. Positioning Kerala as a hub of wedding and MICE tourism will boost the state's participation in allied global events, she pointed out at the session chaired by KTM Society President Jose Pradeep. The closing session was also addressed by the past presidents of KTM Society that strives to create a common ground for travel agents from across the globe and connect them with the service providers in Kerala. Sikha urged the KTM Society to come out with a 'detailed report' featuring the deliberations from the conclave and a 'focused roadmap' to carry forward the momentum set by the meet. 'The government will certainly act upon the key takeaways from this event,' she added, striking an optimistic note on the impact of the conclave that hosted a flurry of buyer-seller meets, besides two seminars featuring international experts.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Call to give special attention to Wedding and MICE tourism in Kerala
The country should nurture Wedding and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism with a specialised focus instead of its current inclusion under the generic tourism development initiatives, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, said here on Friday. He was delivering the keynote address at India's first Wedding and MICE tourism conclave here. Mr. Billa suggested that the segment should ideally have separate microsites on the country's leading tourism portals to focus better on its potential. On the inherent advantages of Kerala in the sector, he said it had the right ambience and infrastructure and the potential business opportunity of ₹1 lakh crore in the Wedding and MICE tourism segment. 'What is needed is convergence, by linking the dots to usher in a synergy,' he said. Maintaining that East Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have long since leveraged the potential of the segment, Mr. Billa said Kerala must take cue from them by setting up a MICE promotion bureau. Hailing the government for its 'bold' decision to go beyond general ideas about tourism and diversify the segment, he said that it must now take initiative in creating an ecosystem focussed on it. 'Kerala's green-friendly policies, the widely acclaimed Responsible Tourism initiatives, and excellent air connectivity have helped the State emerge as a global destination. With the high spend and low carbon footprint, the MICE segment holds immense potential. An array of local enterprises like florists and caterers also stand to benefit from its growth,' he said and also pitched for leveraging new technologies like AI to facilitate quick access to data related to venues and infrastructure in various locations for MICE events and weddings. More than 675 buyers from within and outside the country are participating in the event in which 75 exhibition stalls have been set up for sellers for trade meetings. The conclave organised by Kerala Travel Mart (KTM Society) in association with Kerala Tourism will conclude on Saturday.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Wedding and MICE Conclave Opens in Kochi
Kochi: Aiming to tap the growing potential of tourism linked to personal celebrations and the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, the Wedding and MICE Conclave began in Kochi on Thursday. Inaugurating the three-day event organized by the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society in association with the state tourism department, tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas said Kerala offers the finest venues, making it an ideal destination for this fast-growing tourism vertical. "Kerala offers an unmatched combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, world-class infrastructure and highly skilled professionals. Turning this potential into sustained growth and global recognition requires collaborative efforts," he said. Minister for industries, coir and law P Rajeeve chaired the inaugural function, while state tourism secretary Biju K presented Kerala's strengths as a world-class Wedding and MICE destination. The conclave will host trade meetings and exhibitions at Le Meridien on Friday and Saturday. KTM Society president Jose Pradeep said the summit brings together all stakeholders in the wedding and MICE sector under one roof for mutual benefit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Over 675 buyers from India and abroad are attending, including 610 from within the country and the rest from overseas markets such as the UAE, UK, Germany, US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Oman, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. The venue features 75 exhibition stalls for sellers, along with pavilions from KTDC, Kerala tourism and the Union ministry of tourism. Besides the trade meetings, which will run from 9.30am to 5.30pm, seminars featuring international experts will explore trends and opportunities in the sector. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
