Since the turn of the century, Korea has achieved an enormous
growth in meetings and convention industry by ranking 8th in the number of
meetings and conventions by Union of International Associations in 2011.
In recognition of the enormous value of the meetings and convention
industry, the Korean government has been nurturing and fostering this sector as
one of strategic and new-growth industries In order to boost
the country as one of the top five convention destinations in the world, the
Korean government has declared the upcoming year as the 2012 Korea Convention
Year.
Various programs by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and
the Korea Tourism Organization in cooperation with seven MICE Alliances in
regional convention destinations have been planned with the goal to provide
better services and support to MICE participants and organizers. In
addition, the 2012 Korea Convention Year has been strategically scheduled to
overlap with the final year of the Visit Korea Year 2010-2012 campaign to boost
the number of inbound tourists to Korea.
During the 2012 Korea Convention Year, government support
and incentives for events held in Korea will increase up to twofold
for qualified meetings, conventions and incentive tours. Convention
centers and hotels will offer discounts on meetings venues up to 30 percent off
the published rates. Hotels will offer up to 40 percent discount on
rooms, complimentary room upgrades and welcome amenities for designated
guests. Complimentary site inspection trips may also be arranged for
qualifying organizations and special discounts for the organizer of the
meetings and conventions as well as their participants are also available on
the two flag carrier airlines: Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.
Incentives like traditional performances tickets, souvenirs, tour programs and
more may also be provided for qualified events.
In addition, the 2012 Korea Convention Year joined forces
with the Korea MICE Alliance, which a union of
regional convention bureaus, destination management companies and professional
congress organizers, so that each city’s unique incentive plans are maximized
for participants in any of the nine convention destinations all across Korea. On
a national level, Korea Tourism Organization will increase financial subsidies
to the organizers of MICE events.
To qualify for the Korea Convention Year’s incentive
program, conventions should meet the Union of International Associations (UIA)
meeting standards while incentive tours and corporate meetings should have more
than 100 participants. The event, which may take place between 2012 and 2015,
is required to confirm that Korea
will be its host country during the year 2012. Events with more than 500
participants from the Asian region only or those with more than 1,000
international participants may qualify for airline discounts.
According to UIA, 464 conferences took place in Korea in 2010 –
a remarkable 34% increase from 2009 – elevating the country to the eighth
position in the world for the number conferences hosted. Korea is
aggressively pushing to become the top five convention destination in the world
and expect the 2012 Korea Convention Year to become the driving force behind
this goal.
For further information, please email us at mice@knto.or.kr
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