STEENA JOY – Mumbai
 |
| Tina Singh |
Canada is giving a new focus to the MICE segment especially in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. This is in line with the recent push that the segment received with the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) setting up a separate unit to take it forward called the Business Events Canada (BEC). The unit reflects the continuing importance of the meetings industry to Canada’s economy as well as the crucial role that meetings play in bolstering Canada’s international business.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) has lined up seven priority sectors where the country holds a competitive advantage around which BEC will create a targeted sales focus: aerospace, agriculture and food, clean technology, infrastructure/ engineering, information/ communication technology, life sciences and natural resources.
This year, CTC’s BEC unit will focus on the seven sectors to better understand the industries with the aim of creating new targeted partnerships in 2014. Tina Singh, assistant vice president, CTC, representative in India, said, “More and more corporates are now looking out for new destinations as incentives for their employees. Canada being on top of this list is attracting a number of incentive groups. The destination has a number of attractions and a lot to be experienced by the business traveller. A fast growing middle class with high disposable incomes and the propensity to spend, Indians are now looking for more striking, exotic and exciting destinations for incentive travel. In the recent past Canada has gained popularity for MICE, there is a demand and the number of queries are fast growing. This year we expect this to grow even further.”
