Despite setbacks from the COVID-19 crisis, MICE Bureau is preparing to bounce back in the later part of the year by organizing a series of roadshows across Asia to promote Korea’s appeal as a corporate meetings and incentives destination.
Korea is on the rise in recent years as a destination for both leisure and corporate meetings-incentive travel. The number of foreign participants visiting for corporate meetings and incentive travel recorded 671,046 in 2017 and last year saw a record number of international tourists in Korea at 17.5 million, surpassing the previous annual record of 17.24 million set in 2016. Korea is recording a major decrease in international visitors due to the COVID-19 outbreak, however Korea plans to recover from the setbacks with enhanced marketing efforts for the second half of 2020.
The Korea MICE roadshows, originally set to begin late March in Kuala Lumpur and continue through major cities in China and Vietnam, are postponed to a later date in light of the current situation. The roadshow delegation will be composed of officials from the Korea MICE Bureau, representatives of several regional convention bureaus including Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Gangwon, Jeju, and selected venues, hotels, and attractions. The roadshows will include activities such as exhibitions, gala dinners, and offer opportunities to establish potential partnerships and create wider networks.
“With the worldwide spread of the coronavirus, it appears the 2020 corporate meetings and incentives market will be greatly affected. However, the Korean government is working hard to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within the country and we will strive to actively promote Korea as a MICE destination through enhanced marketing efforts in the latter half of the year, ” says MICE Bureau Executive Director Jo Deokhyun.
Under the Korea Tourism Organization, KMB aims to establish Korea as a top meeting and incentive travel destination. KMB serves as liaison to local convention bureaus, venues, PCO, and DMC to ensure an organized planning and successful execution of events. For more info, visit www.koreaconvention.org.
