In a significant move, Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, during his visit to Vientiane in October 2024, proposed the year 2025 to be celebrated as the “ASEAN-India Year of Tourism”, committing a substantial USD$5 million towards this initiative. This declaration has been warmly received by various sectors of the Indian tourism industry, particularly the “Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA)”, who have long championed India’s rise as a global hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE).
NIMA (Network of Indian MICE Agents) announced 2025 as the “Year of MICE Tourism,” emphasizing India’s growing leadership in the global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector. This initiative aligns with the vision to position India as a premier destination for global conferences and events, offering world-class venues and rich cultural experiences. NIMA aims to foster collaboration between government, travel professionals, and global stakeholders to elevate India’s presence in the MICE industry. This declaration reflects NIMA’s continued commitment to promoting India’s excellence in MICE tourism worldwide.
NIMA’s efforts have consistently been aligned with the national agenda to elevate India’s standing in the global travel and tourism industry. In this spirit, NIMA recently celebrated a decade of progress, commemorated by the ” World MICE Tourism Day ” on 21st June. With 2025 on the horizon, NIMA fully supports the Prime Minister’s initiative to take the Indian travel fraternity to new heights.
A Vision for a Global MICE Day
Vikas Khanduri, Advisor to NIMA, emphasized that India’s potential as a global MICE hub is immense, especially when considering the synergies between tourism and large-scale business events. According to him, India is perfectly positioned to lead the global conferencing business due to its rich cultural heritage, diverse tourism offerings, and competitive pricing. By coupling conferencing with pre-and post-event travel experiences for accompanying family members, India stands to benefit from an even larger influx of international visitors.
He envisions a future where ” World MICE Tourism Day ” will be celebrated alongside World Yoga Day, marking another international initiative spearheaded by India. This ambitious goal reflects NIMA’s broader vision of integrating conferencing and tourism, much like India’s success with promoting Yoga on the global stage. “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,” Khanduri added.
A Call for Professional Excellence
NIMA’s co-founder, Gajesh Girdhar, further stressed the importance of professionalizing the MICE sector in India. “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,” he remarked.
Girdhar’s vision is for India to emerge as the preferred destination for global MICE events, not just because of its affordability and diverse offerings but due to its ability to handle large, sophisticated movements with the kind of operational precision seen in established global hubs like Singapore and Dubai. By bringing international best practices into India’s MICE sector and disseminating knowledge across the industry, NIMA aims to create a more informed, well-prepared MICE ecosystem.
Bridging Yoga and MICE for Global Impact
One of NIMA’s key initiatives is to propose a unique blend of “Yoga and Conferencing” as part of India’s MICE offering. Rakesh Arora, Coordinator of Administration, Finance & Membership at NIMA, proposed that this dual approach would offer global participants a holistic experience. By linking Yoga, an internationally recognized symbol of Indian culture and wellness, with business conferencing, India could create an unparalleled MICE product offering.
“The government should seriously consider formalizing 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,” Arora noted.
Public-Private Partnerships: The Key to Success
One of NIMA’s most important recommendations for realizing this vision is fostering strong public-private partnerships. Arora highlighted that the collaboration between the government and private sector is crucial to ensuring India remains competitive in the global MICE industry. He pointed out that India offers many advantages— affordable pricing, a diverse array of destinations, and an eagerness to host international events. Combined with the government’s support for building new conference venues, this can make India a leading player in the international MICE market.
Moreover, NIMA calls on the government to invest in training programs for all segments of the workforce involved in managing large MICE movements. From event organizers and hospitality staff to transport and visa facilitators, a well-trained workforce is essential to elevate the overall experience for global participants.
The Road Ahead
As India prepares to take center stage for the “ASEAN-India Year of Tourism in 2025”, NIMA’s vision for a Global MICE Day and India’s future as a MICE hub aligns perfectly with the Prime Minister’s agenda. By fostering collaboration, professional excellence, and a unique blend of culture and conferencing, NIMA believes that India can emerge as a world leader in the MICE industry.
With unwavering optimism, NIMA’s leadership looks forward to working closely with the government and industry partners to build India’s future in the global MICE landscape, ensuring that India not only welcomes the world for conferences but also offers unforgettable travel experiences.
