Taipei’s Ranking Rises to 2nd Place in Asia

In May 2011, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) published its annual Country and City Report, the Association Meetings Market 2010.  In 2010, Taiwan played host to a total of 138 international association meetings, ranking it 23rd globally and taking 5th place in both the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.  There were 91 international association meetings held in Taiwan in 2009, which saw Taiwan taking 32nd place globally and 8th in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.  Overall, Taiwan’s country ranking has risen significantly over the past year.  With 99 international association conferences held in Taipei City (the capital of Taiwan) in 2009, Taipei occupied the 11th spot worldwide and 2nd place in Asia.  Compared with 2009, Taipei hosted a total of 64 international association meetings, placing it in the 25th position globally and 7th place in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.  As with Taiwan, there has been a marked improvement in Taipei City’s overall global and regional rankings.

Since the launch of the Taiwan MICE Advancement Program and "MEET TAIWAN", there has been a marked improvement in various key indicators with regard to international association conferences held in Taiwan and Taiwan’s overall rankings.  It goes without saying that MEET TAIWAN’s active involvement in international MICE trade shows and expos has borne fruit.  This year, apart from IMEX 2011, the Americas Meetings and Events Exhibitions 2011 (AIBTM), the China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition 2011 (CIBTM), ITB Asia, and the 21st International Meetings Expo 2011 (IME), etc, there is also a plan to adopt strategic measures to create even more international MICE exposure for MEET TAIWAN by hosting site inspections and through visits to Taiwan by international media personalities.  MEET TAIWAN special features and programs will also be produced and broadcast via international media and multimedia channels. 

To further elevate Taiwan's MICE profile and its vocal presence on the world stage, BOFT officially became an ICCA member in April 2009.  The membership status provides BOFT with ready access to ICCA’s statistical reports on the world’s association meetings market and the right to make use of ICCA’s network database.  It allows access to first-hand information from the world’s various associations.  Moreover, through ICCA’s e-bulletins and newsletters and ICCA’s 3,000-strong Membership Directory, Taiwan MICE professionals can engage and communicate in real time with ICCA Members from more than 80 countries around the world.  The borderless communication platform is very conducive to paving the way for the MICE industry in Taiwan to connect and interact with the rest of the world.