Wedding & MICE Conclave Ends With Call for Policy Framework to Position

KOCHI:
India’s first Wedding and MICE Conclave concluded here today 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 organized 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 Surendaran 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.

Overall, the conclave has been a “resounding success by laying a firm foundation” for Kerala in its future growth and leadership in the wedding and MICE segment, she said.

Thanking the speakers and stakeholders for sharing their perspectives during various sessions and business interactions, Shikha Surendran said “Kerala’s projected advancements in the weddings and MICE segment are not owing to just our natural beauty and cultural cosmopolitanism, but also due to government initiatives and support from travel and hospitality industry.”

KTM Society president Jose Pradeep, in his address, said the conclave has enabled Kerala to set a benchmark in the country for the field of wedding and MICE meetings, adding that the event hosted 6,623 business meets.

KTM Secretary S Swaminathan presented mementos to the organizing teams of the conclave, while KTM Treasurer Jibran Asif proposed a vote of thanks. India Tourism (Kochi) Assistant Director M Narendran welcomed the gathering.

Other speakers on the occasion included KTM past Presidents E.M. Najeeb, Abraham George and Baby Mathew Somatheeram besides KTM Chief Executive Officer Rajkumar K., Vice-President Hari Kumar C. and Joint Secretary Jobin Akkarakalam.