Asian destinations are experiencing a surge in demand from Indian business events groups, with Dubai being among the established favourites while more are becoming increasingly attractive due to direct flight options.
Bindeshwari Prasad, executive director, Axplore Travelplus, told TTGmice that approximately 70 per cent of the company’s outbound business is focused on Asia. A bulk of these are incentive trips while there are several meetings and conferences.
He elaborated: “In the period following the pandemic, Dubai was the most in demand. However, Thailand has since reclaimed the top spot. Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a preferred choice for Indian incentive groups, while Gulf countries like Qatar and Oman are also rising in popularity.”
Akshay Moza, vice president, commercial division at The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Vietnam, said: “The expansion of direct flights to Ho Chi Minh City has greatly enhanced Vietnam’s appeal to Indian travellers, solidifying our position as an accessible and attractive MICE destination. This improved connectivity is crucial for attracting larger corporate groups.”
Pre-pandemic, there were six direct flights between India and Vietnam. Since then, there have been multiple direct flights connecting destinations like New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Kochi in India to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.
The introduction of visa waivers by Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia has also contributed to the growing popularity of these destinations among Indian corporate groups.
Naveen Kundu, managing director, Ebix Travel Group, India, Middle East & ASEAN, said that the demand for Asian destinations for business events is “skyrocketing”, thanks to the “visa-free entry for Indians” offered by several Asian countries.
He added: “Following the lead of countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand, there are reports that Indonesia will soon offer visa exemptions to Indian travellers. I believe that in the next five years, the Indian outbound MICE market alone will surpass the entire (inbound) tourism economy of many countries.”
According to Prasad, there remains a strong pent-up demand for business event activities among corporations in various sectors, including IT, pharmaceutical, finance, and manufacturing.
“There is an average of 18 to 20 per cent growth in demand for outbound MICE this year compared to the last year,” shared Prasad.
