India Set to Become a Global MICE Hub: NIMA Aligns with PM Modi’s Vision for 2025 ASEAN-India Year of Tourism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that 2025 would be celebrated as the "ASEAN-India Year of Tourism," during his October 2024 visit to Vientiane, pledging USD 5 million to support the initiative. This move has been met with enthusiasm across India's tourism sector, particularly from the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), who have championed India's emergence as a leader in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. In response, NIMA has declared 2025 as the "Year of MICE Tourism," further underscoring India’s growing role on the global MICE stage.
The initiative aligns with India’s aim to position itself as a preferred destination for international conferences and events, offering top-notch venues alongside cultural richness. NIMA is committed to working with government entities, travel experts and international stakeholders to strengthen India’s presence in the MICE sector. This announcement reflects NIMA’s dedication to promoting India’s excellence in MICE tourism worldwide.
Earlier this year, NIMA celebrated a decade of progress by marking 21st June as “World MICE Tourism Day,” symbolising its commitment to elevate India’s role in global tourism. Vikas Khanduri, NIMA’s Advisor, sees India’s potential to lead the MICE sector as vast, given the synergy between tourism and large-scale business events. He remarked that India’s unique cultural heritage, extensive tourism offerings, and competitive pricing make it ideal for the conferencing market. Khanduri envisions “World MICE Tourism Day” celebrated alongside World Yoga Day as a reflection of India’s leadership in both wellness and conferencing. “India has already proven that it can lead with Yoga, and now it’s time for us to showcase our leadership in the MICE industry,” he added.
NIMA co-founder Gajesh Girdhar emphasised the need for professionalism in India’s MICE industry to elevate the country’s global presence, stating, “For India to truly dominate the global MICE landscape, it’s essential that we raise awareness within the industry about how India can manage large-scale events with the utmost professionalism.” Girdhar aims to see India become the preferred destination for MICE events, not only for affordability and variety but also for its ability to handle large gatherings with precision akin to established hubs like Singapore and Dubai. By incorporating global best practices, NIMA strives to build a more knowledgeable and prepared MICE ecosystem.
A key initiative proposed by NIMA is to integrate “Yoga and Conferencing” to offer global participants a holistic experience. Rakesh Arora, NIMA’s Coordinator of Administration, Finance, and Membership, suggested that this approach could create a unique MICE offering by linking yoga, a globally recognised symbol of Indian wellness, with business events. Arora noted, “The government should seriously consider formalising this thought. When global MICE participants experience India’s holistic wellness traditions alongside their business conferences, it will elevate the impact of these events and promote Indian tourism on a global scale.”
Another cornerstone of NIMA’s strategy involves strong public-private partnerships, which Arora believes are essential for keeping India competitive in the global MICE market. He pointed out that India’s advantages, such as competitive pricing, diverse destinations and enthusiasm for hosting international events, combined with government support for new conference venues, position the country as a major player in the MICE market. NIMA also calls for government investment in training across all segments of the MICE workforce, from event organisers and hospitality staff to transport and visa facilitators, ensuring a high-quality experience for global delegates.
As India prepares to take a central role in the “ASEAN-India Year of Tourism in 2025,” NIMA’s vision for a Global MICE Day and India’s future as a MICE hub dovetails with the Prime Minister’s tourism agenda. NIMA believes that India can become a global leader in the MICE industry by fostering collaboration, upholding professional excellence and blending cultural heritage with modern conferencing. With optimism, NIMA’s leadership looks forward to collaborating closely with government and industry partners to strengthen India’s global MICE standing, welcoming the world to India for conferences and unforgettable travel experiences.
