Assignment

On

Conference and Exhibition ManagementHT32410

Assignment “A”

Topic:-

Identify your country or city’s main strengths and weaknesses as a conference destination.

With reference to these strengths and weaknesses, suggest a plan for the Development of the business tourism market in your destination.

Type: - Essay

Word count: - 2564

Local Tutor: - Ms. Pushpita Savant.

Module Tutor: - Ms. Joan Meclatchie. Matriculation Number: - N080 15092

Name: - Aman Bhattacharya

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Now a day’s MICE industry is growing rapidly world wide

including India. India is one of the favourite tourist and conference

destinations in south Asia. In India Agra is one of the hot favourite conference

destinations. It has impressive variety of history and culture, from the ancient

kingdoms to the states of India. India has destination, which offers backdrop

of unmatched beauty for a business meets. Conference gives fresh meaning

of the concept of combining work with pleasure. India has potential for every

thing that a guest wants to enjoy in there holidays; it gives dynamic business

opportunity as an international conference as well as conventions center in

global standard, cultural heritage exotic sites and adventure holidays which

can be combined as pre and post conference tours. As India is conference

destination also projected the chain of hotels, which provide international

hospitality services. India is on progress with MICE facilities with in the

country. MICE growing at 15% to 20% annually, that give India 27 rank in

global meeting market. Infrastructure is also matter where it combination of

accommodation and different conference facilities for a successful

conference. Today network of airlines and Indian railways are the new part of

the conference and intensive, which gives MICE movement. The expo

industry has got the profit in exhibition center. (Incredible India, 2004). India

offers business opportunity for business such as IT, Medical, Tourism,

Banking and Insurance, Oil and Petroleum, Agriculture and Food Products,

Textiles etc, for this large numbers of business expo which held in a country

where it invited business delegates from world wide for incentives, trade expo

and conferences. (All India travel info, 2008)

Agra is a prime destination for conferences and holidays.

The city of Taj Mahal is situated in the north India state of Uttar Pradesh that

it has rich heritage and culture. Agra city is famous for its beautiful mughal

architecture, Taj Mahal, this beautiful marble monument, located in the heart

of the city that give excellent opportunity for the business tourism in India. It is

situated on the bank of Yamuna River which makes it more special. In the

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ancient time Agra was capital of the mughal emperor shah jahan and his

beautiful queen Mumtaj Mahal. After she passed away in the year of 1631,

king shah jahan created the white marble Taj Mahal for his love.( Agra hub

city of Architectural Wonders , 2008) Agra district is situated in western U.P

between 27.11* latitude north and 78.2* longitude east on the earth surface

and the elevation of 169 feet from sea level. The weather of Agra is extremely

hot during the summer season at the temperature of 45* max and min 21.9*

centigrade with an average 38*c and during the winter season at the

temperature of 04* centigrade with an average 06*c, city also receives heavy

rainfall in the monsoon season and weather becomes humid. The time for hot

summer is April to June and the rainy July to September and the wettest

month of the year is May. That why travelers prefer to visit in winter season.

(Agra the city of Taj, 2008) the exterior decor of the Taj Mahal is the finest in

the mughal architecture and the decoration element are applying stucco

(plaster made from Portland cement) or by stone inlays or carving and interior

are décor from gemstones. (Anon, 2008)

The Taj Mahal started constructed in the year of 1634 and it

has been build on a 313 square feet in a marble platform that stand on a sand

stone. The monument Taj looks in a full moon night, its best view in the month

of October full moon night when the sky is clear. There are few other

monuments sightseeing near the Agra or within the Agra city, like fatehpur

sikri it is also know as city of victory. It is situated 37 kilometers from the Taj

Mahal; it is made up of red sand stone combination of Hindu and mughal

architecture. The entrance of fatehpur sikri is 175 feet door (Buland Darwaza);

it is highest gateway in the world. Agra fort, it is known for architecture wonder

in stone with in a radius of 3 km on the bank of Yamuna River, it is build in

1556 A.D., the fort was surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It also includes

pearl mosque, Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-khas and Diwan-i-am. Sikandra it is

situated 10 km from west of Agra, it is the final resting places emperor Akbar.

Itmad-ul-daulah tomb, this white marble structure of the pre-Taj era, which is

also known as baby Taj. Chini ka rauza it is a court shahjahan. Ram bagh is a

mughal garden, which is created by the first ruler of the mughal emperor

Babar. Dayal bagh is located 15 km from Agra, the structure of majestic

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building, 110 feet in height built of pure white marble the most impressive

feature is its carving on the walls and the pillar. These are the major sight

seeing of the Agra city including Taj Mahal. There are other destinations of

interest near Agra, such as Bharatpur bird sanctuary which is situated 56 km

from Agra its also known as keoladeo Ghana national park, it is one of the

finest bird sanctuary in the world, spread 40 sqkm area. Mathura and

vrindavan it is the holly place of Hindus, it is the birthplace of lord Krishna and

is near about 60 km from the Agra city. There was a government museum

which has fine sculpture, terra-cotta image, bronze and gold coins objective

back of 5th century B.C to the 12th century A.D and Bateshwar is located near

about 70 km from the east of Agra on the west bank of yamuna river it is

famous for temples and largest cattle fair in north India (Uttar Pradesh). The

best way to get around in Agra is tuk-tuk and bicycle rickshaw is good option

for short trip near the Taj gang market area and for long hour journey taxi is

provide by the hotels and in rents. (Singh. S et al, 2003) it is the next big city,

which is situated on the bank of Yamuna River after capital Delhi which is 200

km from south Delhi. Agra has a series of forts, monuments and the historical

importance that attract tourism in Agra all over the world including domestic

tourist. It is one of the seven wonder of the world that put Agra on the top of

world map and it also makes it one of the three tourist destinations that form

golden triangle of India (DELHI-JAIPUR-AGRA). (Singh .G, 2008)

Today opportunity in the tourism in Uttar Pradesh and in

Agra is increasing day by day. India is most competitive tourism market in

Asia. In tourism survey in India find the total visitor in India in 2007 is

3,450,343 tourists visited in nine month, which represent 12.3% increase an

2006 when 3,071,784 tourists arrived in the country. Tourism earned

us$5,558 m, for the January to September, which shows the growth of 16.7%,

that all give the boom in the tourism and hospitality industry in India. The

study shows that India have key advantage of infrastructures like airlines hubs

thought the country, while road and railway facilities are the best in south Asia

that give growth in the employment sector at present around 41.8 m people

are involve in the tourism industry in India and the common wealth games

held in India in 2010 it will provide significant role to the employment. Agra

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and goa are major conference destination in India that gives opportunity to the

employment growth in the MICE industry. (Business monitor, 2008) India has

increase 100% tourism business in India, it became one of the finest star in

Asia in conference tourism, today MICE organizations are rising and it is a

challenge to India tourism minister Ms.Ambica soni because environment

going to polluted, Ms.Ambica soni announced in great Indian travel bazaar

summit 2008 India going to sites twenty mega destination along with New

Delhi, Hyderabad, cochin and Agra. According to Dr. Scott Rains India is

expert in travel destination development and disability field as India developed

fast its own contribution to the goal growth of travel opportunities that tap into

the purchasing power of the disability community. (Rains. S, 2008) India has

recently liberalized in tourism market, that has social and environmental

impact on a city for economic development rich tourist who come via

structured package tour and the majority of tourist visiting Agra get involve

into hotels and restaurants.(Singh,P,2008)

Agra city also has few weaknesses and threats,

even it naturally or manually according to the tourism pollution is major

weakness in the city it can be air, sound and water, these all effect the

environment and beauty of the Taj Mahal white marbles. The environment

around the Taj Mahal contains sulphur dioxide, which damage the marbles

and makes it yellow in colour because of air pollution in the city. (ABC News

online, 2007) The industries around the Taj Mahal are contributing the major

air pollution, so the supreme court of India ordered 292 coals based industries

to switch to natural gas or else to relocate outside the protected zone. Taj

Mahal is UNESCO world heritage protected site that was adopted in 1972.

Where Taj Mahal is located there is electricity blackout problem in the city that

give negative effect on the functioning of the pollution monitoring system of

the Taj, in the year of 2002 the supreme court of India ordered the heritage

property of the Agra city to set up as a solar power plant for the needs of

energy in surrounding area of Taj Mahal. The environmental measured

proposal for the Taj Mahal is recreate or reintroduction of the cycle rickshaw.

The cycle rickshaw has been there from 1940s; it served low cost with low

pollution transportation in the city. This vehicles where also blamed for traffic

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Stuffiness in the city, which is already banned in the other city of India

including New Delhi. In 1994, Supreme Court of India orders that motorized

vehicles are restricted in the 4 square kilometer surrounding range of Taj.

According to ITDP (Institute for Transportation and Development policy) every

year Agra produced 30,000 to 50,000 cycle rickshaws for recovering the air

pollution. Agra is an unique situation being a tourist destination where

consumer are likely to be willing to pay well over the market price for the

service of cycle rickshaw, it gives environmentally sound and suitable mode of

transportation which help to keep the historical sense of the Taj. (Farrell. S,

2002)

There are one major problem which tourists are faces

problem of night life in Agra expect from few pubs and few of disco in selected

area, the Clarks shiraz is known for it themed mughal bar where Howard park

plaza has a bar and a floating restaurant. Apart from this terrorism, natural,

disaster and cold war (with the neighboring countries) are the major threats in

the state in case of Tourism. Now a days terrorist target heritage places like

Taj Mahal and tourism places, the remedies taken by the central and state

government, they form the anti terrorism squad and forces to protect the

heritage sites. The threats of natural disaster, government already consulting

with natural calamities department of India for the situation of the climate

condition. The cold war between India and Pakistan is not so good, during the

time of war; they can attack in Agra (IAF) Indian air force base to stop Indian

air force, which is already happen during the war of 1965 and 1971 indopak

war. It also effect in the economy of India. (Economic Times, 2008) the

problem of infrastructures is rising, land price are a becoming expensive every

year builders are constructed building in the city. Availability of land is decline

in the city. Before independence of India in 1947 there were more than 250

monuments in the Agra but now 50 are remaining (khandelwal.B, 2006).

There is a problem of drinking water as it contains excess of fluoride ions in it

which may cause several diseases like physiological disorders, skeletal and

dental flourosis, thyroxine changes and kidney damage. (Singh.R et al 2000)

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The central and state government should plan to over come

the problems of the Agra city; they already know Agra is most revenue earned

city in the state as well as in the nation they have to plan in such a way the

environment should be clean and healthy which can effect to the Taj Mahal

and protecting it from air pollution. Government should think about the natural

water body Yamuna River, its look odd, The natural water body, which makes

Taj Mahal; more special. Establishment of the river they have to establish

proper drainage system and stop drain ageing in the river. The state

government should banned usage of plastic bags can effect environment.

Instead of using plastic bags public should use jute bags, for this government

establishes waste management team to make the environment eco-friendly

and provide environment education team those who give knowledge in the

school and colleges about the wastages and recycle of goods. They have to

make strong decision on handling transportation problem in the city, like traffic

jam near to the Taj market where huge kayos of traffic. Now a day’s tourism is

the major problem in the nation they attack tourist destination in the nation,

which can effect business in tourism, state government take care this problem

seriously because Agra is one of the favorite conference destination and

heritage site in India and they should care about the monuments of the city.

IT Companies and medical tourism prefer for the conference and intensive in

Agra, which give beautiful monument in the city. Art and the architecture of

mughal emperor and there historic view of the city and in the outskirt of the

city. Till now there is no chance for natural disaster in Agra, but floods and

earth quack can occurs in any time because of global warming, so

government should ready for tackle the problems can occur in the city.

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Basically MICE industry totally depend upon the tourism

Industry, which give it strength for it growth in tourism market. Conference is a

meeting of individual or representative of various bodies for the main purpose

of discussing on any particular topics of interest. Agra is one of the best

conference destinations in India because of its heritage sites and it historic

monuments which makes it unique it self such as Taj Mahal, Fatehpur sikri,

Agra fort, Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-khas, Diwan-i-am, Sikandra, Itmad-ul-

daulah tomb, Chini ka rauza, Ram Bagh and Dayal Bagh and more and

infrastructural changes which changes the looks of the Agra, physically it

happened because of increase in foreign investment which has also

increased the economic growth. It has one commercial market Taj gang which

happens to be the oldest in Agra. this market have helped Agra to become

economically strong by selling handy craft items such as carpets, Taj Mahal

showcase, cloths , electronic items, necklace, food items. But there are areas

of improvement like unauthorized construction, dispute over property rights.

The polluted air is affecting green area around the Taj Mahal and inurns

affecting the marbles of Taj Mahal. So Agra is good conference destination

but it to be best it has to solve its entire problem.

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Reference:

All India travel info ,(2008) “MICE(Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions)” retrieved on 23/09/08 from http://www.allindiatravelinfo.com/mice.html

Agra hub city of Architectural Wonders ,(2008) “ Agra hub city of architectural wonder” retrieved on 23/09/08 from http://www.agrahub.com/

Agra the city of Taj ,(2008) “District Profile” retrieved on 24/09/08 from http://agra.nic.in/hist.htm

ABC News online ,(2007) “Pollution turns Taj Mahal yellow” retrieved on 04/10/08 from http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1923981.htm

Anon,(2008) “ Agra India longitude and latitude” retrieved on 03/10/08 from http://www.convertunits.com/distance/city/Agra,+India

BHATIA.C,(2008) “Air Pollution in Agra” retrieved on 28/09/08 from http://thesalmons.org/lynn/india-pollut.html

Business Monitor ,(2008)” the India tourism report 2008” retrieved on 24/09/08 fromhttp://businessmonitor.com/tourism/india.html

Economic Times , (2008) “Every passing train a security threat to Agra air base” retrieved on 04/10/08 from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/ET_Cetera/Every_passing_train_a_security_threat_to_Agra_air_base/articleshow/3536900.cms

Farrell .S ,(2002) “The Taj Mahal: Pollution and Tourism “ retrieved on 02/10/08 from http://www.american.edu/TED/taj.htm

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Incredible India ,(2004) “ mice “ retrieved on 23/09/08 from http://www.incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=866

Ice India ,(2008) “India as a Conference Destination” retrieved on 22/09/08 from www.ice india .in/ india - conference .asp

Khandawl .B,(2006) “Serious threat to historical monuments in Agra” retrieved on 04/10/08 from http://www.nerve.in/news:25350026697

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas ,(2008) “The Taj Trapezium”retrieved on 06/10/08 from http://petroleum.nic.in/envtaj.htm

Maps of India ,(2008) “Agra Weather” retrieved on 27/09/08 from http://www.mapsofindia.com/agra/agra-weather.html

Rains.S,(2008) “Tourists with Disabilities Offer Opportunities to India” retrieved on 27/09/08 from http://wecando.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/tourists-with-disabilities-offer-opportunities-to-india-says-dr-scott-rains/

Sing.G,(2008) “Beyond the Taj Mahal and the Golden Triangle, Agra City Calls for a Youth Summit on Climate” retrieved on 26/09/08 from http://ecoworldly.com/2008/07/28/beyond-the-taj-mahal-and-the-golden-triangle-agra-calls-for-a-youth-summit-on-climate/

Singh. S et al, (2003) “India” Melbourne by lonely planet publisher Pvt. Ltd, pg.334-336.

Singh .P, (2008) “Sustainable tourism and Economic development: A case study of Agra and Varanasi” retrieved on 27/09/08 fromhttp://dspace.iimk.ac.in/bitstream/2259/545/1/114-121+Dr.+Prakash+Singh.pdf

Singh R et al ,(2000) “Defluoridation of Groundwater in Agra City Using Low Cost Adsorbents” retrieved on 05/10/08 from www.springerlink.com/index/0CAF8DRR1NU9XDKW.pdf 

The Caravan, (2008) “Sightseeing in Agra” retrieved on 25/09/08 from http://www.caravantraveltalk.com/agra-sightseeing.htm

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