Korea Set to Inspire MICE Buyers at AIME2013

Korea is aiming to inspire buyers to host their next meeting, incentive, conference or exhibition (MICE) event in Korea at AIME2013 (Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo 2013) at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on the 26th and 27th February.

A large team of Korean MICE industry specialists will join the Korea Tourism Organization stand no. 3100 at AIME2013. They include Seoul Tourism Organization, Busan Metropolitan City Government, Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gyeongnam Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization as well as Korean tour operators - AJU Incentive Tours, Holiday Planners Co. Ltd., Jane Tour & DMC, Kims Travel Service, Plaza 21 Plus Travel, Rye Tour Co. Ltd. and US Tours & Travel.

Korea offers many reasons to inspire you to host your next meeting in Korea. With the combination of the number one airport, state of the art convention facilities, and exciting year round events coupled with the spectacular natural environment, your next meeting in Korea will surely be inspiring.

Korea is on the fast-track to becoming one of the top destinations for MICE events. MICE space in the country has expanded 70% since the year 2000, and more facilities are being developed in key hubs to boost the industry. To keep up with this growing demand, Korea is working to boost its MICE facilities to maximise the benefits of MICE clients.

Currently there are three new facilities under construction. The Korail Convention Centre, also known as the Seoul Station Convention Centre will open in 2015 with a gross floor area of 50,000 square metres, 23,000 square metres of conference facilities, exhibition space of 16,000 square metres and a 3,000 seat conference hall as well as a multi-purpose cultural space.

Also in Seoul, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Exhibition Centre will open in 2013. Designed by renowned architect Zaba Hadid it will feature 85,000 square metres with three floors in the basement and two floors above ground. It is part of a large urban development project which will contain a multi-use park, a fashion plaza, an underground mall and a restoration of a number of items of national heritage.

The new Gyeongju Convention Centre is currently being built as an efficient and energy saving facility. Construction began in 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2014. Following the completion of the Gyeongju Convention Centre Korea will have a total of ten convention centres situated strategically in various cities across the country. The Gyeongju Convention Centre will have a gross floor space of 30,100 square metres, meeting rooms of 6,300 square metres (three large and 20 medium rooms) and a 2,500 square metre exhibition hall and concert hall of 14,000 square metres.

Korea presently has nine major convention centres in major cities throughout Korea as well as Seoul and Jeju Island off the southern coast of Korea. Easy access to the country as well as convenient transportation such as the KTX Express train service allows connection between major cities within a two hour range of Seoul, the capital.

Pre and post tours are a great attraction as visitors can immerse themselves in the remarkable cultural heritage and vibrant nature of Korea. Along with the healthy cuisine visitors can join in activities such as learning how make traditional Korean ceramics, experience a night in a traditional Korean house (hanok, join a taekwondo training program or experience oriental medical treatments.

Korea also offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities: arcades, department stores, duty-free stores, outdoor markets and for those who have no time to shop during the day, all night shopping is a speciality of Korea. At Dongdaemun you can shop all night till 5.30am in the morning.

Live theatre options are wide and varied including popular shows loved by tourists to Seoul like Nanta and Jump. Traditional performances of music and dance can be enjoyed at places like Korea House and the Jeongdong Theatre.

Korean cuisine inspires many visitors to Seoul to take up healthy eating. Korean food is not only delicious, it is also very good for your health. Meals are nutritionally balanced and very low in fat and many vegetable dishes are provided as side dishes to the main course. Korean BBQ is very popular with visitors to the country and the variety of Korean cuisine is huge.

Korea Tourism Organization and their co-exhibitors welcome all buyers at AIME2013 to visit the Korea stand (3100) to learn more Korea's MICE capabilities and how to host your next successful meeting in Korea.