Sunday, September 8, 2024 The UT Administration is preparing to elevate its tourism offerings under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 initiative. This ambitious project focuses on creating a wide range of tourism products that reflect the city’s unique regional strengths, popular attractions, and overall tourism profile.
A report, commissioned by the Union Ministry of Tourism and developed by a hired consultant, underscores the city’s immense potential in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism. With its strategic location, top-notch infrastructure, and cosmopolitan appeal, the city is perfectly positioned to host corporate events and large-scale conferences. Catering to business travellers The city’s iconic architecture, rich cultural heritage, and diverse accommodation options offer a distinctive experience for business travellers.
Its favourable climate and safe environment further boost its attractiveness as a premier MICE destination. Expanding its meeting facilities and building a strong MICE brand presence could dramatically increase its tourism appeal. While major cities like New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahmedabad dominate global MICE rankings, India’s overall share in the international business tourism market remains modest.
The exhibition sector in India is seeing consistent growth, but the report stresses the importance of stronger marketing efforts to attract more business visitors. The city’s excellent accessibility, robust infrastructure, and cultural diversity as key elements that make it a prime candidate for MICE tourism. To fully leverage this potential, the report recommends establishing a dedicated MICE Promotion Bureau and building a state-of-the-art convention centre.
These initiatives would provide comprehensive support for MICE events, enhancing the UT’s appeal to both national and international markets. Renowned for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and diverse accommodation options, the city provides an exceptional experience for business travelers. Its favorable climate and secure environment further reinforce its position as a top-tier destination for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).
Enhancing the city’s meeting facilities and establishing a robust MICE brand identity could substantially improve its tourism appeal. One of the major recommendations is the creation of a convention center, as the city currently lacks adequate venues to host large-scale national and international conferences. A dedicated convention facility would not only elevate the city’s reputation as a MICE hub but also drive economic growth in the region.
The report proposes that the convention center be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model to ensure the creation of a world-class facility that meets global standards. Such a venue would not only highlight the city’s cultural heritage but also support the development of associated infrastructure, positioning the city as a prime location for business events and fostering cross-cultural interactions. The administration is also working on a Tourism Vision Document 2047, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.
Early findings reveal that the city’s primary obstacles include its geographic constraints, the absence of a convention center, and limited marketing efforts. The future tourism strategy for the city includes branding and marketing initiatives, capacity building, public engagement, MICE tourism development, and technological enhancements. All of these components will be integrated into a comprehensive Destination Master Plan to shape the city’s tourism landscape.
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