Goa Tourism Wins ‘Most Promising MICE and Wedding Destination’ Award at BLTM 2026
Panaji, September 04, 2026: Goa Tourism has been awarded the ‘Most Promising MICE and Wedding Destination Award’ at the Business + Leisure Travel and MICE (BLTM) 2026, recognising the State’s growing prominence as a destination for MICE and wedding tourism.
Goa Tourism participated as a Partner State at BLTM 2026, held from September 2 to 4 at Yashobhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), New Delhi. The three-day platform brought together tourism boards, travel trade professionals, corporate buyers, MICE planners, wedding planners, media and other industry stakeholders, providing Goa with an opportunity to strengthen its engagement with key markets.
Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, said, “This recognition for Goa as the Most Promising MICE and Wedding Destination is a proud moment and reflects the growing confidence of the travel and tourism industry in the State’s potential beyond traditional leisure tourism. Goa has the infrastructure, hospitality ecosystem, connectivity and unique experiences required to host weddings, conferences, incentives and business events. Our focus is to build on this potential while ensuring that tourism growth creates opportunities across our local tourism ecosystem. We will continue to work closely with the industry to position Goa as a preferred destination for MICE and weddings in India and international markets.”
Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Tourism), Shri Sandip Jacques, IAS, said: “Being recognised as the Most Promising MICE and Wedding Destination is an encouraging validation of Goa’s growing potential in these segments. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with the tourism industry and create an ecosystem that positions Goa as a preferred destination for MICE and weddings.”
Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, said, “Receiving the Most Promising MICE and Wedding Destination Award at BLTM 2026 is an encouraging recognition of Goa’s growing strength in these segments. Our participation at BLTM allowed us to engage directly with travel trade, hosted buyers, wedding planners, MICE professionals and industry leaders, while showcasing the breadth of experiences and infrastructure that Goa offers. The award reinforces our efforts to diversify Goa’s tourism portfolio and strengthen the State’s positioning as a destination for both business events and celebrations.”
The pavilion welcomed distinguished industry leaders and served as a platform for meaningful conversations and business interactions with travel trade, media and tourism stakeholders. Goa showcased its diverse tourism offerings, including MICE, destination weddings, leisure, culture and heritage, wellness, adventure and experiential tourism.
The interactions during the exhibition provided an opportunity to discuss destination promotion, emerging tourism trends and potential areas of collaboration, while highlighting Goa’s expanding tourism proposition to an influential gathering of domestic and international industry stakeholders.
The award was presented during the Valedictory and Awards Function of BLTM 2026 by Shri Sanjiv Agarwal, CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd. The award was received on behalf of Goa Tourism by Shri Rodlin Mascarenhas, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism; Shri Vishesh G. Naik, Senior Manager, GTDC; and Shri Sudatt Kambli, Assistant Tourism Officer, Department of Tourism.
The recognition at BLTM 2026 further strengthens Goa’s positioning in the MICE and wedding tourism segments, while complementing the State’s established appeal as a leading leisure destination. Goa Tourism continues to focus on expanding its tourism portfolio and building stronger partnerships with the travel trade to promote diverse and responsible tourism experiences across the State.
