MICE tourism may get shot in the arm with mooting of Bharat Mandapam in partnership with ITPO

The in-principle decision by the Government of India to fund the development of Andhra Mandapam in Visakhapatnam on the lines of iconic Bharat Mandapam operational at the famous Pragati Maidan in New Delhi will provide a booster dose to the plans of Andhra Pradesh Government to transform the city into the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) capital of South India.

AP, which wants to become a leading tourism hub by 2047, has attracted investments worth Rs.30,000 crore in the past 16 months. The authorities are expected to add over 10,000 star hotel rooms. Land has been allotted to Oberoi and Mayfair groups to develop world-class resorts with conferencing facilities in the city. Novotel Varun Beach recently received recognition for its facilities to host MICE events. The CII Partnership Summit concluded in the city recently saw the signing of 104 MoUs in the tourism sector envisaging an investment of Rs.17,973 crore. Tourism Minister Kandula Durgest said MICE tourism is being developed in a big way in the city.

The Star Hotels' Association of AP has already recommended to use the high-end residential complex built in the erstwhile government for use as Chief Minister's Office as a hub for MICE tourism with some modification. The proposal is under consideration of the State Government. Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group has inked MoU with the State Government for developing an international convention centre with six lakh sft, two million sft multiplex and a five star deluxe hotel at Harbour Park over an area of 14 acres with the panoramic view of the sea.

Tours and Travels Association of Andhra (TTAA) president K. Vijay Mohan told Bizz Buzz that AP is losing huge revenue from MICE tourism as the State in general and Visakhapatnam in particular do not have adequate facilities to host big events. He said specific policy incentives are required to take up building the required ecosystem with fixed timelines.

During the CII Partnership Summit, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced to allot a hilltop site with a seaview for development of an international convention centre if the Centre is ready to fund it. This was preceded by an offer by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on the need to build Andhra Mandapam modelled on New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam. He said such a facility will be useful for hosting global conferences, exhibitions and trade shows, positioning the city as a global destination for MICE tourism. At present, the city does not have suitable facilities for hosting destination weddings due to which many are hosting high-profile destination weddings either in Bhubaneswar or Hyderabad.

Goyal had hinted at India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) joining hands with the State Government for developing the Andhra Mandapam. For want of a world-class convention centre, all editions of CII Partnership Summit hosted in AP in association with Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of Indiaeither at Harbour Park or at Andhra University Engineering College Grounds by putting up ad hoc AC hangers.