Local PCOs say precise outreach efforts and financial support are needed to further motivate associations to choose India for their events
India’s association events market has benefitted from an enabling business environment, but PCOs are calling for outreach efforts and financial support to further incentivise local chapters to bring their international association events to the country.
“The government is the enabler to create a positive business environment in the country and under the leadership of the Indian prime minister, I think that has been achieved to some extent,” said Prasant Saha, CEO, CIM Global.
“International associations are seeing reasons to hold their events (in India) as the destination continues to increase its purchasing power.”
India’s business environment is being continually bolstered by government initiatives, according to Rajeev D Kale, president and country head, leisure travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India).
He said: “The government is taking unparalleled initiatives to boost Indian industries and hence initiatives such as Make in India and Invest India are focusing on how the international markets will invest in India.
“Marketing with the support (of) schemes like The Market Development Assistance – where the government offers assistance towards bidding for international conferences – will yield great results.”
Although the traditional markets for the association events in India have been the US, UK and Europe, international association based in Asia-Pacific, such as the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Informatics, are now also organising their events in the region.
“We need to explore new markets for association events besides the traditional ones,” opined Amaresh Tiwari, managing director, AT Seasons & Vacations Travel.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of Tourism is looking to bring the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB)through its first restructuring and step up efforts to bid for larger association events.
“We are in the process of forming state chapters of ICPB. We will also be talking to various ministries and departments like agriculture and information technology (about bidding) for international association events,” said Suman Billa, chairman, ICPB.
However, some PCOs shared that they would like to see more precise outreach efforts, financial support for the local chapters of international associations and greater collaboration between the government and ICPB.
“The Indian government and ICPB need to work together and (jointly) conduct roadshows in cities like Geneva where association headquarters are located,” said Chander Mansharamani, managing director, Alpcord Network Travel & Conferences.
“The government should provide financial support to Indian chapters of international associations so they can bid for events (to be held here),” he added.
Swadesh Kumar, founder, Shikhar Group of Companies, explained: “Very few international associations come to India on their own. You have to motivate (their) domestic chapters.”
Swadesh added he has also called for more marketing dollars to be spent on various association journals domestically.
As well, he pointed out that the difficulty of getting a conference visa in India poses a challenge.
“The government rules say that delegates coming for conferences have to apply for a conference visa, a process which is very cumbersome. Conference visa should be also included in the E-Tourist Visa facility.”
India’s Ministry of Tourism is in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs about potentially easing the conferenc visa application by including it in the electronic system, according to ICPB’s Billa.
Based on the 2015 ICCA Statistics Report on the associations market, India stood at 31st position in the global ranking, four positions up from its 2014 standing at 35th place.
Traditionally, India has been attracting association events in the fields of medicine, science, education and textile. The 18th International Congress on Oral Pathology and Medicine took place in September 2016, while the 6th World Congress on Biotechnology is scheduled to take place in New Delhi in October this year.
