Macau extends MICE promotion program

 MANILA, Philippines - The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is extending the Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program until Dec. 31 to continue to attract more international MICE (meeting, incentive, convention, exhibition) events. The MGTO has budgeted US$3.3 million for the program extension.

Launched in 2009 to stimulate tourism development, the program has been well received by the local tourism industry and has contributed tremendously to the growth of the MICE component of Macau’s travel and tourism industry.

In 2010, a total of 1,399 MICE events were held in Macau, an increase of 184 (more than 15 percent) over the 2009 total. The average duration increased from two days in 2009 to 2.5 days, while the number of participants and attendees reached 806,135, up by 41 percent year-on-year.

Among these events, 57 exhibitions attracted 656,303 participants and attendees, with average duration increasing from 3.1 to 4.3 days.

Meetings and conferences accounted for 1,342, with average duration rising from two to 2.4 days. The number of participants totaled 149,832.

The Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program has three categories: meetings and conventions, exhibitions, and incentive groups. From May 18, 2009 to May 6 this year, the program supported a total of 246 events, including 95 meetings and conventions, 47 exhibitions and 104 incentive travel events with a total of 1.1 million participants. Financial support reached US$6.1 million.

So far, 38 upcoming events have enrolled in the program, including six meetings and conventions, 20 exhibitions and 12 incentive travel events with some 640,000 participants and involving a financial support budget of around US$3.6 million.

For details on how to avail oneself of the program’s support for a MICE event, contact MGTO-Philippines at 812-2595 or via mgtophil@info.com.ph.