Coffee board to promote coffee-tourism under Incredible India campaign
Mumbai: In order to boost tourism industry with the coffee sector, the central government has allowed the coffee board of India to promote coffee-tourism under flagship of Incredible India programme.
Speaking to DC at the India International Coffee Festival on Saturday,the coffee board chairman Leela Nair said that, following the Karnataka module of Coffee tourism, Ministry of tourism from the current financial year has allowed board to promote tourism with coffee industry. However, due to the delay in request from our side, government couldn’t fund us but has asked to kick-start it under incredible India programme, she added.
In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Chief Secretary, Rita Teaotia, who was the guest speaker on concluding day of festival, said “Talking about coffee tourism, it provides great experience for the tourists all around world which is also environmentally beautiful”.
Teaotia added that this would also boost the start-up in the country to partner with the existing plantations and take an advantage of this open market. She urged the young entrepreneurs of India to see coffee as the emerging markets for start-up, which has enormous opportunities.
Further speaking on the coffee tourism, President of India coffee trust, Anil Kumar Bhandari pointed out that more than international tourists, there has been steep increase in the domestic tourists from last five years.
Speaking to DC about the start up opportunities in coffee sector, Chief Secretary Rita Teaoita said, “If you look at the coffee industry which has number of small plantation sectors, could be turned has an opportunity as it makes niche product, niche branding and a niche market.”
Secondly, India being traditionally south states coffee-drinking area has started looking into the branding and also spreading it into the north India market the Barista and Starbucks, with this chain, somebody with well-placed product can also turned into great opportunity for start-ups, Teaoita mentioned.
“Third is, we do have specific coffee varieties coming in from different region and branding and marketing of those could turn great opportunities for the start-ups to spread”, she added.
The sixth edition of India international coffee festival 2016 that was programmed for three days, concluded on Saturday with guest speaker Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Chief Secretary, Rita Teaotia’s address on start up India campaign in coffee industry.
The festival comprises of an International Conference Exhibition for all things coffee, skill-building workshops, product launches, coffee quiz, coffee awards, and a host of other exciting activities.
The festival also served as a platform for many coffee growers, roasters, retailers, equipment suppliers, researchers and entrepreneurs. This year the festival saw as many as 500 delegates for the conference and skill building workshops.
More than 60 companies are exhibited at the Coffee Expo, drawing visitors from across the globe.
Leading brands like Hindustan UniLever, Tata Coffee, Nestle, Leo Coffee, Buhler, Kaapi Machines MK Associates, Swiss Pack, Bunn-O-Matic, Diedrich, CMA, Probat, YARA India, Rabo Bank, Eltex marketing Services, Controlmatic, etc., are exhibiting at the event.
Start-ups have completely transformed the way India consumes their Coffee be it Coffee delivery or E-commerce or Cafés or Roast & Ground Coffee sellers. IICF also played a large focus on these Start-ups.
