India to compete for business tourism

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India to compete for business tourism. Government offers grants to states to set up a convention center to promote a so-called Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.

Tourism Minister Kumari Selja is focussing on the promotion of tourism products, has announced that the central financial department will provide assistance for the development of one of the centers in each state and union territory.

Grants will be given on the product or the purpose of infrastructure development and the promotion circuit for MICE, according to a tourism official.

"Help will be given up to Rs.50 million (Rs.5 crore) for each project based on proposals received from the state," the official added.

MICE tourism as a concept has been getting popularity for several years with the company as the company's use of the site outside the workplace to motivate their staff to conferences, travel incentives and focus on business meetings, usually arranged in a location. This trip includes sightseeing, shopping and recreation.

The ministry said officials also focussing on creating infrastructure that will add to the experience of adventure tourism such as sports.

Proposal to set up heliports that will be part of the purpose of development projects.

The goal behind this move is that they will be "open to some new destinations and also provides a unique experience" for both foreign and domestic tourists.

Around 5.36 million foreign tourists visited in 2008. The first five years from 2009 shows a sharp decrease in the number of foreign tourist arrivals in this country compared with the same period in 2008. But from June onwards, witnessed increased slightly, officials said.

In June this year, about 341,000 foreign tourists visited the country compared with 340,000 in June 2008 and 310,000 in June 2007.