PIB News Update: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is organizing ‘Meet in India’, a MICE Road-show at ‘Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre’, Khajuraho from the 25th to 27th March, 2021. The welcome ceremony of the event was held on 26th March, 2021; during which Shri Amresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman of ‘India Convention Promotion Bureau’ (ICPB) made a presentation on the future of MICE Industry in the country followed by another presentation by Ms. Sonia Meena, Addl. Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board wherein multiple tourist attractions of Madhya Pradesh were showcased. In his keynote address, Shri Ashwani Lohani, CEO GMR Group said that Madhya Pradesh is truly the heartland of India and has immense potential to attract tourists. He also threw light on the changes happening in the field of tourism post Covid. Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in his address said that the Ministry of Tourism is eager to create hand holdings between different stakeholders and act as a catalyst to develop tourism in the country.
The second session of the day was held on ‘Making Khajuraho – as Iconic Tourist Destination’ during which a detailed presentation on the master plan of Khajuraho was made by Shri Jay Kaktikar, Partner, Design Associates. The Minister (Tourism & Culture) saw the presentation and deliberated the same in detail. Thereafter, various local stakeholders and local media also presented their views on development aspects of Khajuraho and gave their feedback and comments on the Master Plan of Khajuraho.
Thereafter, various aspects to develop and promote Khajuraho as an Iconic Destination covering cultural, natural and heritage offerings of the destinations and surrounding attractions were also discussed. The session was attended by Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister (Tourism and Culture), GoI; Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary (Tourism), GoI; Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary (Tourism & Culture), Government of Madhya Pradesh; Shri Abinash Manghani CEO Welcome Heritage; Dr. Navina Jafa, Cultural Techno Crat; Shri G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, ITD and Shri Pranab Sarkar. The session was moderated by Shri Gaurav Taneja, Senior Partner & Leader from Ernst & Young.