MANILA, Philippines - The staging of the forthcoming international conference on Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) highlights the rise of business tourism in the Philippines, according to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the event organizer.
TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III said business tourism, which used to account for only 15 percent of total visitor arrivals in 2010, could rise further with the contributions from the MICE industry and corporate sectors, especially those with transnational or global presence.
“Business tourism is also being propelled by the development and expansion of modern MICE facilities catering to corporate and industry needs – from incentive travel and marketing events to huge conferences and other business functions – arising from trade and investment liberalization and the ongoing unification of regional economies, including the emergence of the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) by 2015, and the increase in the number of budget airlines and the growing access to island destinations,†Enerio explained.
He said TPB also wanted to optimize the country’s advantage in having many natural tourism destinations and cultural landmarks around the MICE hubs for pre- and post-event tours.
“At the same time, our MICE hubs are also increasing in number, with the addition of the Bay area around the Mall of Asia, the Resorts World Complex near the airport in Manila, and many others in Clark, Subic, Cebu and Davao, among others,†Enerio added.
“We want to increase the number of our business events and facilities to boost tourism in this sector by providing expert knowledge on market trends and strategies through the MICE Conference of 2014,â€Enerio pointed out.
Slated at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark on June 4 to 7, MICECon 2014 will have experts sharing their trade secrets and providing strategies in marketing, business and technology, association management, communication, organizational development, and many various opportunities, including the impact of the AEC on ASEAN-member countries like the Philippines.
Previously held in Subic, Cebu and Davao, the annual MICECon is designed to help develop the local industry and position the Philippines as a preferred international MICE destination.
Expected to participate in MICECon 2014 are industry practitioners, airline firms, hotels, resorts, convention centers, destination management companies, incentive and event planners, professional congress/exhibit organizers, MICE venues, local government units, and the media.
MICECon 2014 will also bring in around 40 select MICE buyers from Australia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Russia and another 10 local corporate buyers primarily for a one-day buyer/seller business exchange, or MICE Mart.
With the theme MICE in 4D (Driving Passions, Developing Minds, Defying Limits, Designing the Future), MICECon 2014 is aimed at bringing the country’s MICE industry to another dimension of development.
Inquiries on registration can be directed to the MICECon secretariat (c/o TPB, MICE and business development unit, tel:+632 5256635, 5259318 to 27 loc.256; fax: +632 5216165; email: cit@dotpcvc.gov.ph/miceregn2014@yahoo.com/ tpb.specialevents@yahoo.com).