“Despite being burdensome, crises can also bring about opportunities and force positive change,” said Cynthia Kiang, Director-General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Photo Credit: tampatra/Gettyimages
Like other countries in the region, Taiwan has been striving to find a
balance between pandemic prevention and economic recovery. Getting a
handle on the health crisis early on, the country’s MICE industry was
able to pivot quickly to virtual and hybrid meeting models.
“Despite being burdensome, crises can also bring about opportunities
and force positive change,” said Cynthia Kiang, Director-General of the
Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, which launched
the country’s convention bureau, MEET TAIWAN, in 2009.
“Our business events were not completely shut down during this
unprecedented challenge, because the government actively assisted
organisers with arranging digital exhibitions in line with digital
transformation,” she said.
This included the TAIPEI AMPA trade show, which attracted more than
10,000 visitors; the hybrid Asia and Oceanian Congress of Neurology; and
the world-renowned Computex 2021, which attracted nearly 400,000 online
visitors from 117 countries.
Taiwan’s solid technological foundations, especially in 5G
connectivity and VR/AR developments, bodes well for a ‘hybrid’ future.
Nevertheless, Kiang acknowledged the industry’s digital shift “still has
a long way to go and the process is also difficult”.
She added: “Digital MICE talents are very important for improving the
industry; therefore, we are actively cultivating our MICE planners to
promote digital transformation and provide organisers with innovative
digital experiences.”
And when it comes to long-term recovery, Kiang believes a sharpened
focus on sustainability will prove vital as more government and business
leaders set goals to address climate change.
“In 2013, MEET TAIWAN formulated a three-prong approach to practice
green MICE; namely, establishing green concepts, encouraging action, and
counselling for certification,” Kiang explained. “We hope to implement a
low-carbon economy that serves as a model for Asia. Green MICE
Guidelines have been issued by our government, incorporating the spirit
of reducing, recycling, and reusing to help MICE events implement green
actions that will facilitate MICE supply chains with driving a green
economy.”
Moving forward, the bureau will focus on promoting Taiwan’s eco-
conscious MICE venues and suppliers (17 of which have acquired the
industry- leading ISO 20121 accreditation) as well as wellness and CSR
activities, and encourage corporate groups to experience the country’s
easily-accessible natural surrounds.
“Since sustainability is a major concern of our time, Taiwan’s MICE industry must not be absent,” she said.