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Dept. of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Govt. – News Release
Issued by: Tourism Development Division               
Issue Date: 16 July, 2020
Contacts: Ya-Ting Chuang Manager, Ling Hsu Project Manager
Contact Tel: 1999 (02-27208889 outside Taipei City/New Taipei City), ext. 2105, 2104
 
As the global pandemic slowly eases, an “unblocking” was officially announced for the Taiwan MICE industry in June. In order to effectively capture post-pandemic business opportunities, the Taipei City Government Department of Information and Tourism (TPE-DOIT) held a “MICE Industry Leadership Meeting” in the afternoon, July 3. A total of 24 MICE industry leaders from 21 enterprises were invited to attend the event, from businesses involved in exhibition and conference organization and in incentive travel, from MICE-venue hotels, etc. The goal was to use the perspective of industry players as starting point for comprehensive consideration and discussion of MICE industry post-pandemic innovation and transformation.

In her address, Department of Information and Tourism Deputy Commissioner Lee Li-chu stated that “many countries have begun to discuss the concept of establishing ‘travel bubbles’ or ‘travel corridors,’ and the MICE industry must begin targeting international MICE activities with advance preparations. DOIT will continue to utilize digital marketing channels to communicate Taipei’s safe and secure MICE environment in the international marketplace, and compete for events to be held here.” During the period of the outbreak of the global pandemic, DOIT urgently convened industry enterprises to gain understanding of losses and discuss relief measures. Now, with the gradual easing of the pandemic situation, the effort is to target post-pandemic business opportunities.

According to a statistical report released by the Exhibitor Media Group, an internationally renowned MICE media enterprise, MICE industry professionals believe that the three major trends for the future in the MICE industry are: coexisting virtual and physical compound meetings, decreased attendance at physical events, and a reduction in the number of events staged. In addition, if face-to-face meetings are not possible, social media and online seminars will be the most popular alternatives.

Specially invited to share his insights was John Sie, founder and CEO of two of Asia’s event platforms with the greatest number of events and users – Accupass and Huodongxing. Sie posited that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this may be the first year in an offline to online shift for MICE industry operations. He recommended that relevant industry players should rethink their “promotion model,” “revenue model,” and “interaction model,” and simultaneously expand an all-new “value chain” and range of complementary “collaborative partners.” In addition, he opined that the MICE-event industry must gradually progress from “considering and exploring online activities” and “successful development of online advantages” to “online and offline interactive integration” and then to “construction of all-new value-added scenarios.”

Chairing the meeting and presiding over the exchange of ideas was Jerchin Lee, co-director of the “Taipei City MICE Execution Plan” and TAITRA Director. The greatest concern of the industry professionals was when Taiwan’s restrictions are to be lifted, and they called on the central government, while continuing its stellar work in security and epidemic prevention, to speed up the opening of the country’s borders. They also enthusiastically shared their ideas on innovation and transformation for the post-pandemic era. Taipei City MICE Ambassador Kitty Wong stated that: “Because of the pandemic situation, many physical MICE activities have been shifted online. I recommend that the government open relevant training courses, to assist the industry in responding to new trends.” Victor Chou, the general manager of Kuei Jung Exhibition Co., Ltd., proposed that: “In terms of post-pandemic positioning, to create new business opportunities I suggest that our industry must consider cross-border cooperation, or the integration of meetings/conferences, exhibitions, incentive travel, and other events.”     
      
Facing the challenge of the pandemic situation, and building on the professional advice provided by these industry leaders, on the road ahead DOIT and the Taipei MICE Office will serve as a fountainhead for mapping out the innovation and transformation required for MICE industry marketing promotion and bid competition, attracting the return of MICE activities in the post-pandemic period, increasing the number of MICE visitors and revitalizing the MICE-environs economy.


Group photo at Taipei City MICE Industry Leadership Meeting, with Department of Information and Tourism Deputy Commissioner Lee Li-chu (front row, third from left), Accupass CEO John Sie (front row, second from left), and other enterprise leaders.


Accupass founder and CEO John Sie shared his views on post-pandemic MICE industry digital innovation and marketing practices.