The Andhra Pradesh government is set to unveil a dedicated MICE Policy to transform the southern Indian state into an international business events destination.
The upcoming framework will introduce aggressive incentives and formal bidding support designed to attract high-value global conventions and tradeshows.
“We are planning to establish city-level MICE bureaus in three locations, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada, within the next two months.
“Our inventory of classified hotel rooms is also expected to increase from the current 5,000 to 20,000 over the next five years, which will further support the growth of MICE demand,” said Ajay Jain, special chief secretary for tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Building on the success of New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, the Indian government has proposed the development of a similar convention facility, Andhra Mandapam, in Visakhapatnam.
“I believe Andhra Pradesh Tourism’s planned city MICE bureaus will significantly aid in projecting the state as a global MICE destination. These bureaus will act as single-window facilitators for permissions, local partnerships, and marketing, addressing key pain points such as fragmented approvals,” opined Souvagya Mohapatra, managing director (India, Nepal, Bhutan & Sri Lanka) for hospitality company Atmosphere Core.
However, Mohapatra pointed out that the effectiveness of these MICE bureaus will depend on autonomous operations, public-private collaboration, and infrastructure upgrades; otherwise, the initiative risks being symbolic rather than transformative.
Atmosphere Core is expanding its footprint in Andhra Pradesh with a seven-billion-rupee (US$77 million) investment to develop three luxury properties. The pipeline includes a 200-key super-premium beachfront hotel in Visakhapatnam, a 150-key property in Tirupati, and a 120-key upscale development in Amaravati.
“These projects will feature facilities tailored for the MICE segment,” shared Mohapatra.
Additionally, the Andhra Pradesh-based Varun Group is developing a 5,574m2 convention centre in Amaravati. The project includes a 140-room five-star property, with plans to expand the hotel to 200 rooms.
“Globally, city-based MICE bureaus actively bid for international events, as such structures carry significant weight in the selection process. Once these city MICE bureaus are established, we can advise them on which international conferences they should target and bid for,” said Chander Mansharamani, vice chairman of the India Convention Promotion Bureau.
