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With the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) gaining utmost prominence, the state is now trying to pin its focus on the sector, said Hareet Shukla (IAS), Secretary, Tourism Department of Gujarat. “MICE sector is one of the important efforts made in the tourism sector to increase all-year-round tourism. One of its features is that conferences and meetings are held all year round and due to this, there are many differences in the economy,” he acknowledged.
“According to last year’s report, Gujarat is the number one preference among the total foreign tourists visiting India in the tourism sector. Gujarat is also in the top five in the field of domestic tourism,” added Shukla.
As a prelude to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) and India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) are jointly organising a three-day event, The 14th Conventions India Conclave (CIC) on the theme of “Sustainable MICE: Empowering Event Towards the USD 5 Trillion Economy” from December 7 to 9 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
“We are happy to host this conference in Gujarat. Our purpose is to highlight Gujarat in the Indian MICE Industry. For this, we aim to create a sub-brand, ‘Meet in India’. MoUs will be signed which will facilitate India’s MICE Industry and Tourism Sector,” informed Shukla.
The 14th Convention India Conclave, will be inaugurated by Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Mulubhai Bera, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest and Environment, and Climate Change, Gujarat on 7th December 2023. As per the department’s estimated figures, about 300 delegates will participate in this program. Additionally, 30 exhibitors and 80 buyers will also be a part of the event.
In the context of this pre-event, Secretary Shukla held a press conference at Leela Hotel, Gandhinagar.
There was excitement noted for the upcoming Incredible MICE (iMICE) event, which is anticipated to further elevate India’s profile as a MICE destination. Calls were made for the strategic classification of MICE hotels to streamline the sector, and recognition was given to India’s substantial development in MICE infrastructure, with a strong recommendation for its continued expansion and enhancement.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Sourabh Pardhi (IAS), Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL), reiterated that Gujarat has always been a leader in hosting big conferences and events.“Gujarat, with its rich cultural heritage, architectural marvels, and diverse landscapes, has emerged as a compelling destination for both leisure and business travellers. To take this to a different level and provide a platform for the 14th Convention India Conclave. In the context of MICE, Gujarat has always been the leader in organizing big conferences. We have organised G20, vibrant Gujarat, Defence expo, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, and many more MICE events recently which got attention across the globe,” he said.
“This platform enables us to showcase Gujarat in locations where significant events draw a high footfall,” he asserted.
Amresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, ICPB and Chairman 14th CIC spoke on the role of ICPB and their participation in the event. He said that the objective of the India Convention Promotion Bureau is to promote MICE. ICPB is a dedicated national apex body of India that showcases India as a leading MICE destination. It is an organization that was formed in 1998 between the Government of India, the Ministry of Tourism, and the private sector through PPP.
“Through ICPB we market the country for MICE and we are aiming to make our country a MICE destination for the world,” added Tiwari.
“Our vision is to establish at least 10 world-class MICE centers in the next 5 years and these should be considered among the top 50 in the world. One of which will also be from Ahmedabad,” he said.
He further revealed that ICPB will be organising B2B sessions and conferences on various topics on December 8 and 9, besides fixed meetings of exhibitors and buyers in the B2B session.
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