MICE: Gains diminished by truck bans & thugs

In terms of number or purpose, we can classify tourism as group tourism or personal tourism.  Personal tourism is so common to us.  We see families, honeymooners and friends coming in for leisure, entertainment, watching festivals, etc.  The typical example are those visitors coming in for Suroy-Suroy Sugbo or the Sinulog Grand Parade.  Group tourism is what the meetings industry players generally call MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and as MEEC (Meetings, Expositions, Events and Conventions) in the United States of America.

In MICE or MEEC, groups come in huge numbers for purposes of attending conferences, conventions, expositions or exhibits whether religious, economic, professional, environmental, medical or scientific in nature.  A typical example is the 51st International Eucharistic Congress which Cebu is hosting. 

Several countries are taking MICE very seriously.  The reason is very obvious.  Its economic value is lucrative and huge for the host city.  Among others, economic benefits range from foreign exchange generation to job creation.  It also offers business opportunities that usually lead to the development and upgrade of national and regional infrastructure.

In the 2013 (the latest information available) statistics released by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), countries USA, Germany, Spain, France and the United Kingdom are the top choices of MICE or MEEC organizers. 

On the other hand, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, Barcelona and Berlin are their most preferred cities.  Conspicuously, except for the USA, the top five countries and cities are all in Europe.  Notably, however, among Southeast Asian cities, Singapore ranked 6th and Bangkok placed 20th. 

According to ICCA, “the popularity of countries as MICE destinations depends on a wide range of factors, not only connected to the countries themselves and their situation, but also to the type of meeting and how well it relates to the environment of choice.” 

Thus, logically, we have been chosen as host of the 51st IEC because we are predominantly a Catholic country. Other factors “include the current social, political and economic situation of a country, its safety and its accessibility from abroad.” 

However, though we rejoice in Cebu’s choice as IEC host, we must bear in mind that due to this hosting, other normal activities had to be either slowed down or stopped.  It is not because of our being host per se, but because such hosting will further worsen Metro Cebu’s traffic congestion.  So that, has always been the norm, we came up with another temporary solution, extended truck ban.  As a result, the movement of goods (both raw materials and finished goods) was curtailed.  Thus, production activities were disrupted and deliveries of finished products have to come to a screeching halt at some point in time. 

Manufacturing firms that operate 24/7 are to suffer the most.  Obviously, therefore, whatever gains we have in the hosting of such global event is diminished by the economic inactivity brought about by the extended truck ban.

Moreover, as we seriously try to establish Cebu as major MICE destination, we must take note of our major entry and exit points.  For instance, our port area.As has always been, at the port area, we shall see tired and happy faces (tourists both foreign and domestic, businessmen, jobseekers, etc.) squeezing themselves into a horde of equally hurrying passengers to speedily disembark.  As they disembarked, we can feel their sense of security inside the port.  It seemed understandable though as the security guards were so visible and were apparently implementing the rules.  As they stepped out of the port, however, the place was in total contrast.  As we can observe, the place was cluttered with men dangling car keys to unsuspecting inbound commuters pretending they are taxi drivers.  Once approached, they bring these unsuspecting commuters to some parked taxis and forcibly demand a sum from them or from the taxi drivers or both.  Rushing to get home or be on their appointments or conventions on time, they pay. 

The same scenarios abound in our bus terminals as well. Some tourists and our brothers and sisters “probinsyanos” have been victims of these hoodlums who are bracing against each other in trying to snatch their bags in the guise of assisting them for a seat and forcibly demanding payments later for the alleged services rendered.  Fearing for their lives, they give in. 

These dispatchers right outside our bus terminals are unforgiving.  They prey on both taxi drivers and commuters in every ride they took.  Sadly, these bullies have continued to terrorize commuters and have sometimes damaged their belongings as they madly scramble for it.

So that, if should we try to make Cebu one of the most preferred destinations for MICE, efforts shouldn’t be limited on structure improvements, facelifts and traffic improvements alone. It is about time that our authorities shall also adopt an iron-handed approach in getting rid of these thugs and bullies.