The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has made a
substantial presence at IBTM Barcelona 2024, a leading global travel exhibition
focused on the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions)
industry. Incentives, Business Travel, and Meetings (IBTM) event is being held
from 19th to 21st November. It is an important forum to upgrade India as a
year-round destination for hosting world-class summits and conventions.
With the theme "People. Power. Potential," IBTM
World 2024 aligns well with India's aspirations to promote its growing MICE
abilities. The Ministry has established "Meet in India," a reliable
sub-brand under the "Incredible India" campaign, emphasizing the
India's top-tier infrastructure, superior connectivity, knowledge epicenters,
and rich cultural attractions.
Leading convention centers, including the Hyderabad
Convention Centre and Jaipur Convention Centre, have partnered with the
Ministry to exhibit India’s readiness to host large-scale events. These centers
echo India’s promise to develop state-of-the-art facilities that cater to
diverse global communities, including business seminars and cultural events.
India has recognized MICE tourism as a vital niche sector
that handles seasonality in travel and places itself as a 365-day destination.
The country’s enhanced infrastructure, global-standard hotels, improved road
networks, and better air connectivity, particularly to remote areas, have
boosted its attraction for global events.
In 2023, India secured the 7th position in the International
Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings for the Asia-Pacific
region, highlighting its growing importance in the MICE sector.
Speaking at the event, Shri Inbasekar Sundaramurthi, Consul
General of India in Barcelona, inaugurated the Incredible India Pavilion,
attended by Ministry of Tourism officials and key Indian MICE stakeholders. The
pavilion seeks to promote India’s myriad offerings to global experts, stressing
India's ability to host seminars and conventions with distinction.
As part of its promotional strategy, the Ministry of Tourism
is cooperating with Indian missions abroad to improve India’s visibility as an
upscale travel destination. Through these measures, India strives to draw more
inbound tourism, catering to a wide range of tourists across age groups,
economic classes, and cultural choices.
India's participation at IBTM Barcelona is a step ahead in
showing the nation as an international hub for MICE activities, contributing to
economic development and international collaborations. (PR)