With arms wide open, Taiwan gets pulse of business events racing

Taiwan has made a swift comeback to the international business events scene since reopening its borders in October, and MICE players across the island are urging international travellers and delegates to visit the destination again.

“There’s a strong pent-up demand for Taiwan and many people are eager to return,” said Nina Lin, deputy executive director at Taipei International Convention Centre and TWTC Exhibition and Convention Operation Department, which are part of Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).

Following Taiwan's reopening announcement made in September, TAITRA has observed a swift return of travel and business events while the number of groups from Asia confirmed for the last quarter of 2022 has steadily grown, said Lin.

"Taiwan has been anticipating and preparing for the return of MICE business, so we welcome everyone back. Let’s meet in Taiwan," said Lin, speaking to M&C Asia in November during a media fam.

The Taiwan Pulse fam trip, hosted by TAITRA, was a testimony to the many positive changes across the island and readiness to welcome MICE visitors again.

Taipei

It isn't hard to see why Taipei's powerful meld of iconic attractions, wide array of meeting venues and hotels, dynamic food scene, among others, have made the city such an evergreen destination for leisure and MICE visitors alike. This Taiwanese capital is also consistently ranked among the top cities in business events industry rankings.

As the economic, political and cultural heart of Taiwan, the city's veritable MICE scene is backed by leading venues such as Taipei International Convention Center and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, while Taipei Dome will soon make its debut in 2023.

Not to be missed is an obligatory visit to the top floor of Taipei 101, which offers unbridled vistas of the city in all directions. Meanwhile, i-Ride Taipei Flying Cinema, located in the Breeze Nan Shan shopping mall, took us through an awe-inspiring and multi-sensory 5D ride through Taiwan, offering fascinating sights and unmatched beauty of Taiwan from the mountains to the sea.

Kaohsiung

In Kaohsiung, a major harbour and industrial city in the south, local MICE executives shared how a new raft of icons, attractions and hotels have visibly changed the city's skyline. In particular, the Asia New Bay Area – spanning Kaohsiung Music Center, Kaohsiung Public Library, Kaohsiung Software Park Information Service, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center and Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal – is one to watch.

Thanks to its high levels of liveability, sustainability and technology, Kaohsiung has also attracted more global events in recent years. Notable ones include the hybrid ICCA Congress in 2020, while Taiwan Design Expo and Sustainable Taiwan Expo were recently held at the 5G-powered Kaohsiung Exhibition Center this year.

Tainan

An hour's ride on Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) from Kaohsiung sits Tainan, the birthplace of Taiwan and the oldest city on the island. In addition to its storied heritage, colourful streets and veritable food culture, the 400-year-old commercial city is at the forefront of Taiwan's green industrial transformation with the establishment of science parks such as Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City and Southern Taiwan Science Park.

Tainan's steady emergence on the Taiwanese business events arena can be seen from the growing crop of big-scale hotels with MICE facilities as well as the ICC Tainan, which opened in April 2022 next to Tainan HSR station to become "the best connected venue in Taiwan", according to the city's tourism and MICE executives during their destination updates on the trip. On the ground, the Tainan government has also pledged support towards growing the city's sustainability and MICE agenda.

This 4D3N trip barely scratched the surface of Taiwan's rich offerings for MICE groups. Meeting and event professionals should definitely visit the destination for themselves to understand the sheer diversity of possibilities on this unique island.