The discussion was held during the three-day Madhya Pradesh Travel Mart 2025, which was held from October 11 to 13.

The session was moderated by Chetan Vohra, Chairman, FICCI Wedding Tourism Committee.

Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Shiv Shekhar Shukla, highlighted that Madhya Pradesh, located in the heart of India, enjoys seamless connectivity by road, rail and air to all major cities of the country.

The state offers an extraordinary blend of world-class convention centers, luxury hotels, natural beauty, historical landmarks and a rich cultural legacy—making it an ideal destination for weddings and MICE events.

Shukla emphasized that the state government, in collaboration with all tourism stakeholders, is committed to positioning Madhya Pradesh as a sustainable global destination.

He assured that all constructive suggestions will be duly considered and necessary support will be provided to ensure that the sector not only strengthens the state’s economy but also generates significant employment opportunities.

Vivek Jude, Deputy Director (Events & Marketing), Tourism Board, delivered a presentation on the tourism potential of Madhya Pradesh.

He informed that destinations such as Khajuraho, Mandu, Orchha, Maheshwar, Bhopal, Pachmarhi and Pench are being developed as international-standard MICE and destination wedding venues.

Experts and stakeholders from across India also shared their perspectives during the discussion.

Amit Hooda (Wedding Connections & AHA, Jaipur) drew from Rajasthan’s success story, stressing the importance of strong connectivity and infrastructure for developing this sector.

Ekta Saigal Lulla (ESL Events) suggested the development of more distinctive venues with unique identities to make Madhya Pradesh a global magnet for destination weddings.

Isha Agarwal (Wedding Chapters) underlined the crucial role of hospitality and recommended that hotel owners be consulted to rationalize tariffs during the wedding season.

Vikramjeet Sharma (Le Florence Weddings) called for the establishment of a “One-Stop Approval System” to ensure swift permissions for large-scale events and to boost the confidence of international organizers.

Shruti Singh (Wedding and Travel Journalist) noted the importance of effectively promoting Madhya Pradesh’s natural, cultural and historical assets through modern media channels.

Rajiv Malhotra (CEO, Lotus Exhibitions) spoke about the immense potential of trade fairs and exhibitions in the state and urged for the development of facilities aligned with local strengths to enhance both business and tourism growth.

Suraj Dhawan (Director, Falcon Exhibitions) remarked that India is one of the world’s fastest-growing exhibition markets, expanding at nearly 40 percent annually, and that Madhya Pradesh is well-positioned to tap into this opportunity at the right time.

Representatives from leading hotel chains including Taj and Marriott were also present on the occasion.

They expressed willingness to collaborate with the state government in promoting wedding and MICE tourism, and agreed to develop a joint strategic roadmap for the same.