The Minister was addressing a press conference here at the Mascot Hotel on Tuesday to outline the progress of the conclave being organized by Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM Society) in collaboration with the State Tourism Department.
Tourism Secretary Shri K. Biju, Shri Jose Pradeep, President, KTM (Kerala Travel Mart) Society, KTM Society Secretary Shri S. Swaminathan, Immediate Past President Shri Baby Mathew Somatheeram, and former presidents Shri E. M. Najeeb and Shri Abraham George also attended the press meet.
So far 360 buyers from within the country and 40 from abroad have registered for the conclave, which is expected to go up in the coming days. Also 65 sellers who are part of the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Wedding sector have also registered for the event.
“The conclave aims to tap Kerala’s potential in this fast-growing segment, leveraging the state’s unique advantages to transform it into a global MICE and wedding tourism hub,” said Shri Riyas.
The inaugural session of the conclave will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Bolgatty Island, Kochi on August 14 at 5 pm. The business meetings and exhibitions on the subsequent days will be held at Le Meridien.
Recalling the government’s farsighted efforts to sustain and develop tourism sector during the Covid Pandemic, Shri Riyas said ‘Tourism Department has since then done extensive
marketing to showcase Kerala’s potential for destination wedding and MICE tourism in other states and countries.’
“Our efforts saw success as an estimated 1000 destination weddings were conducted in various tourist locations across Kerala in the last year alone,” said Shri Riyas.
‘When we examine the post Covid era, the graph of tourist inflow in the state is higher than global and national average, the minister noted.
Apart from the natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, panoramic beaches, back waters and a host of other factors including world class hospitality, infrastructure and road connectivity make Kerala a highly promising destination for wedding and MICE tourism, he said.
Other than five-star hotels and resorts, tourism department will focus on the development of home stays, PWD rest houses and tourism guest houses to attract more tourists into the state as part of the integrated development of the sector, he noted.
KTM and Tourism Department with the help of private enterprises facilitate a seamless and enjoyable experience for tourists who visit the state for destination wedding and MICE tourism, the minister said.
Development of the tourism sector and a steady surge in tourist arrivals will propel the overall social and financial condition of the society. From auto drivers to resort owners, everyone involved will have the opportunity to prosper, said Riyas.
The upcoming conclave comes in the wake of the state government’s major plans to make the state a major destination of wedding and honeymoon tourism, as announced by Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan while inaugurating the last edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM-2024).
“With ‘Center Stage Kerala’ as the focal theme, the conclave seeks to leverage Kerala’s reputation as one of world’s most-preferred destinations to ramp up MICE and Wedding Tourism, said Jose Pradeep.
“The conference will bring together organizers of wedding, corporate conferences, operators of large convention centers and tourism and hospitality service providers under a single umbrella, for a calibrated promotion of the segment,” he added.
The meet will host training camps, innovative marketing strategies, logistics and technology deployment in collaboration with large MICE and wedding companies, besides using local supply chain.
The exhibition on the sidelines of the event will serve as a platform for businesses with extensive experience in the MICE sector to showcase their products. Wedding planners, luxury resorts, destination wedding venues, floral designers, photographers, catering units, and bridal services providers will have the opportunity to display their talent.
The buyers coming for the conference will be taken to places across the state such as Kochi, Munnar, Kumarakom, Kollam, Kovalam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Bekal.
The meet will prominently showcase attractive wedding tourism sites such as beaches, backwaters and mountains. Cultural heritage, ancient architecture and delicious cuisine will also be integrated with the event’s theme.
The business meetings at the conclave will be held as per a schedule prepared in advance. The event will hold expert-led training workshops and exhibitions of all the attractions that Kerala has to offer in the wedding industry.
There will be business meetings from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on August 15 and 16, besides seminars with the participation of international experts.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
