INDUSTRY
Good connectivity, eased visa process to drive MICE sector by 14% annually
- IBJ Bureau
- Aug 21, 2026
India’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector is expected to grow at 12 to 14 per cent annually over the next three to five years, Network of Indian MICE Association (NIMA) National Coordinator Nitin Mittal has said.
“The country’s MICE and destination-wedding industry is witnessing strong momentum, with corporate MICE growing by 10 to 15 per cent year on year and destination weddings expanding at an even faster 15 to 20 per cent, taking the combined segment to around 12 to 15 per cent growth over the previous year,” Mr Mittal has said at the three-day Travel & Tourism Fair Mumbai 2026.
While established hubs, such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, continue to lead, tier-II and -III destinations, including Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kochi, Varanasi and Indore, are emerging as attractive alternatives, driven by their infrastructure, cultural appeal and cost advantages, he has added.
“Over the next three to five years, the sector is expected to grow at 12 to 14 per cent annually. Strengthening connectivity, streamlining visas, developing city-level convention bureaus and introducing targeted incentives for global events will be critical to positioning India as a leading global destination for MICE and weddings,” Mr Mittal has added.
Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Chairman (Western Region) Rajesh Poddar has said, “The travel trade is witnessing strong momentum in domestic and the Far East markets, with changing global dynamics and visa challenges for the EU and US, influencing traveller preferences.”
India recorded over 430 crore domestic tourist visits in 2025, while 3.28 crore Indian nationals travelled abroad, registering 6.3 per cent growth year on year, reflecting the sector’s continued expansion, he has said.
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