Mangaluru : The presence of top-notch medical colleges, expert doctors, rich culture, warm hospitality and affordability are making Mangaluru the most preferred destination for hosting conferences/events which bring together doctors and pharma companies.

Though the city has no adequate infrastructure to host international conferences, it still has facilities to host national and state-level conferences. Every month, the city hosts one or two such conferences, according to doctors in the hospitality industry.

Dr V Surendra Shetty, pro vice-chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, said that anyone hosting big conferences first looks at availability of infrastructure like venue, decent hotel lodgings and connectivity. Mangaluru is blessed with many such factors.

“Though the region is progressing slowly, the undivided Dakshina Kannada district is home to nearly two dozen reputed medical/dental/homeopathy/Ayurveda colleges. There are a good number of well-known doctors, hospitals and talented medical students. Apart from it, there is a better connectivity. These are the factors why Mangaluru is turning into one of the preferred destinations for doctors’ conferences,” he said.

Another uniqueness that people from other states or district like about Mangaluru is its hospitality.

“In 1991, under my leadership, the city hosted national-level orthodontics conference. The best thing that all praised about Mangaluru is its warm hospitality and it continues till date. In my personal experience, one will never see such hospitality from day one of the conferences till its valedictory. Another aspect is good food and diversified culture,” he said.

Another doctor, who did not wish to be named, said that hosting of such doctors’ conference in Mangaluru is helping budding doctors in a big way, who get to interact with experts.

B N Girish, vice-president, The Ocean Pearl, speaking on customer point of view, said that apart from other advantages, facilities like accommodation, venue and food cost are more affordable than anywhere else.

“If one has to organise similar conferences, the individual has to shell out two or three-fold more money. Whereas in Mangaluru, good facilities are offered for reasonable prices,” he said, adding that they recently opened a new facility in Bejai, as day-by-day demand for lodging is increasing.
“This conferences are also helping in boosting tourism industry,” says Girish.