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Dept. of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Govt. – News Release
Issued by: Tourism Development Division               
Issue Date: 24 June, 2020
Contacts: Yu-Ling Chueh, Division Chief / Mei-Chuan Yu, Sub-section Chief
Contact Tel: 1999 (02-27208889 outside Taipei City/New Taipei City), ext. 6901, 3369
 
With the domestic epidemic situation having been brought under stable control, the Central Epidemic Command Center is expanding its relaxation of epidemic prevention measures. On June 11 it announced the lifting of restrictions on meeting and exhibition activities, as well as opening to business travelers from countries/territories with low and medium risk of infection starting from June 22, with conditional entry and shortened quarantine periods. The Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government has already made preparations in compliance with the principles of the “anti-epidemic new lifestyle campaign,” and been first to usher in MICE domestic business opportunities.

At the same time, from June 7 to December 6 a 50% reduction of rental fees is being offered for such venues managed by the Taipei Expo Foundation as the Taipei EXPO Park’s EXPO Dome, EcoARK, Yuanshan Plaza, and EXPO Hall, with the goal of encouraging MICE enterprises to organize MICE events and achieving industry revitalization. 
       
In June and July this year (2020) a total of over 100 events large through small are being held in Taipei City, including consumer exhibitions such as the Taipei Furniture Fair, Taipei International Venture Franchise Exhibition, and Taipei International Summer Travel Exhibition, corporate conferences, academic seminars, concerts, etc. In the second half of the year, in September is the 26^th World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, in November the 2020 Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society Congress, and in December the Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan 2020. All are international MICE events that have been awarded support from TPE-DOIT for being held in Taipei, under Phase II of its MICE sponsorship program for 2020.     

Taipei City Mayor Ke Wen-je recently took part in the “Inclusive Economic Happiness and Sustainability – Economic Forum on the Post-Epidemic Era,” emphasizing that even with the full defeat of the epidemic, Taiwan is facing a new socioeconomic model and must think about how to “transform.” The Web Conference 2020 was used as an example; held in Taipei from April 20 to 24, because epidemic-prevention restrictions made physical on-site meeting impossible, the conference was fully broadcast online. The Mayor delivered his opening speech over the Internet, and met together in the online world with top experts in the field of information technology and representatives from technology developers and governments from nations around the globe.     

According to Liu Yi-Ting, Commissioner of the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government (TPE-DOIT), in the post-epidemic era the trend will be toward digital and physical-digital hybrid conferences and exhibitions. DOIT will be holding a meeting of MICE-industry leaders on July 3, initiating exciting opportunities for innovative exchange across different fields and, in turn, generating “transformation” that will create more MICE business opportunities. 

Domestically, DOIT is working hand in hand with industry enterprises. Internationally, it is working with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to implement the “2020 Taipei City MICE Short Term Execution Plan,” in cooperation with international MICE professional consultants. In May the publication of Chinese and English e-newsletter editions were launched, and at the end of this month (June) the “Taipei MICE” FB fan page is being launched. These and other dedicated media digital marketing channels are being utilized to actively promote Taipei City’s safe and secure MICE environment, and advertise the fact that in International Congress and Convention Association rankings released in May this year, Taipei’s ranking moved up from 6^th to 5^th among Asian international meeting-destination cities, its best performance in recent years. Preparations continue in order to realize post-epidemic business opportunities.  


Mayor Ko Wen-je took part in The Web Conference 2020, delivering a welcome address online


Publication of the Chinese and English editions of the “TAIPEI MICE” e-newsletter was launched in May