Conferences and exhibitions impact goes beyond statistics

Fanny Vong

The number of participants in the region’s meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions (MICE) should not be a sole indicator when determining the benefits of those activities, the impacts of which extend far beyond what statistics suggest, stated Fanny Vong, president of the Institute For Tourism.
Her remarks came on the first day of the third edition of the International Conference on Events (ICE 2015), which started yesterday morning. Figures released two weeks ago by the Statistics and Census Service noted that the size of attendees at MICE activities in the previous quarter shrunk by 21.7 percent from the equivalent period of last year. Vong expressed her belief that such a fall in attendance numbers hardly reflected the efficacy of what was deemed a necessary part of a more diversified economy in Macau.
“The influence of conferences and exhibitions goes much beyond the ordinary travel statistics we see in general, such as visitor numbers and the average purchase,” said the IFT head. “Whether or not their presence at those events or functions would lead to some new partnerships, thereby to more some other investment projects.”
The varying level of purchasing power in different participant groups spelled differences in data, said Vong. Currently, almost all the MICE events operate on government sponsorship. She also thought that the broader picture needed to be considered, instead of the number of event-goers.
As the mainland authorities in the surrounding region intensified their efforts in developing MICE industry, the school’s rector stressed that it could be an ideal time to spur on regional cooperation with them, which could improve synergy between the two sides in order to achieve what such an industry could offer in the long run.
She also believed that more international events could burnish the image of the region on the world stage, which in return would attract more overseas organizations and event planners in the future.
Yesterday’s symposium, of which the previous two editions took place in England, saw a total of 70 scholars and participants from abroad who would continue their discussion over the development of the industry until tomorrow. Vong expressed her desire that the region could see more similar academic events from which to absorb more insights from experts into how the values of the MICE industry could be measured.
Furthermore, a decade after the institute launched its program to nurture practitioners in the sector in 2005, Ms Vong said that the demand for event planners has never been met as  local enterprises constantly knocked on the school’s door requesting more manpower. The school has churned out more than 400 graduates in event management.
“The demand for human resources only comes when the industry is thriving,” she noted, signaling the underlying potential of the MICE industry. The school’s surveys on the prospects of its event management graduates, who are steadily on the rise every year, suggest an ideal outlook and a bright future.
As part of the institute’s 20th anniversary celebrations, ICE 2015 seeks to put together scholars and practitioners from 14 countries and regions to disseminate up-to-date
research, initiate collaborations and exchange ideas in event management. AU