The 14th edition of ‘Convention India Conclave’ the flagship event of ICPB, got a vibrant start with the august presence of none other than Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel, who inaugurated the three day long event taking place at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
State’s Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera, Secretary Tourism Government of India Rakesh Verma, Tourism Secretary of Gujarat Hareet Shukla, ICPB’s Vice Chairman Amaresh Tiwari and a large number of renowned sellers from India and selected quality buyers from national and international fronts were also presented on the occasion.
While addressing the delegates, Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel emphasized that more than 40 percent of the revenue in the tourism sector is derived from the MICE industry, therefore he highlighted the significant potential of this sector for employment generation and its extensive positive impact on the local economy.
Speaking further, State’s Chief Minister underlined the growth of adventure tourism, heritage tourism, and religious tourism in Gujarat.
He emphasised the state’s shift towards conference tourism, highlighting prominent venues such as the Mahatma Mandir, Statue of Unity, Rann of Kutch, and Tent City, which have evolved into key destinations for hosting national and international conferences, concurrently promoting tourism.
Speaking on the same lines, Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera, remarked that Gujarat has become a favored destination for global tourists. Renowned for its wealth of heritage sites, prehistoric landmarks, pilgrimage destinations and natural wonders like the White Desert, Gujarat’s mountains, forests, beaches, and deserts continue to captivate tourists.
He highlighted that Dhordo in Kutch recently earned the prestigious title of ‘Best Tourism Village’ from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNESCO). Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, various infrastructure facilities are being developed to enhance the travel experience for tourists worldwide.
Tourism Secretary Hareet Shukla mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat has made concerted efforts to boost the tourism sector, resulting in the state becoming the tourism hub of the country. Gujarat is the preferred choice for foreign tourists and holds the top position in domestic tourism, ranking fifth in the country. “The state’s unique cultural heritage attracts a significant number of tourists annually,” he added.
Vice President of India Convention Promotion Bureau, Amresh Tiwari, provided insights into the role of ICPB and offered a comprehensive overview of the current global scenario in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, along with its potential.
Highlighting that MICE is an 800 billion dollar industry globally, he pointed out that India’s current contribution is less than one percent. Acknowledging this gap, there has been a concerted effort, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to develop the MICE sector in India.
