The Kaohsiung Exhibition Center is Taiwan’s first waterfront multi-functional exhibition and convention center.
The second edition of the hybrid Taiwan Incentive Talk, which saw
regional MICE planners from seven countries connect with Taiwanese
exhibitors, ended on a high note on 21 October.
Organised by MEET TAIWAN in conjunction with Taiwan’s Ministry of
Economic Affairs (MOEA), the event spotlighted the country’s southern
region and its waterfront event venues, and followed a successful first
edition which focused on the country's northern cities.
Chang Shu-Yi, director of MOEA’s Bureau of Foreign Trade and Jerchin Lee, deputy managing director of MEET TAIWAN came together at the Taiwan Incentive Talk to discuss Taiwan’s MICE recovery.“The Bureau of Foreign trade is continuing to enhance MICE industry
development throughout Taiwan, and in this instance, the southern
region, said Chang Shu-Yi, director, bureau of foreign trade, MOEA.
Chang also highlighted the 59th ICCA Congress that was held in
Kaohsiung last year, which culminated in the creation of the Kaohsiung
Protocol — a strategic recovery framework to guide the global meetings
and events industry forward in a post-pandemic era.
Together with the framework, she said that the “MEET Taiwan programme
will actively assist domestic industry players with arranging business
opportunities during and after the pandemic".
New business events infrastructure
Local suppliers gathered at a waterfront exhibition hall in Kaohsiung to connect with global MICE planners who tuned in via an interactive virtual platform.In line with the event's 'Vibrant Habor Cities' theme, local
exhibitors dressed the part, adorning their necks with flower garlands,
opting for colourful outfits, and passing a beach ball around during the
opening introduction segment.
Buyers from Asia logged into the virtual platform, similarly designed
in a beach-theme, to watch a live seminar with destination updates,
participate in quizzes with hotel giveaways, and attend one-to-one
meetings with Taiwanese suppliers.
Among the new venues coming online is the International Convention Center Kaohsiung, eSports Arena and Greater Tainan Convention & Exhibition Center, which "will definitely bring more energy in
terms for activities for the MICE industry in southern Taiwan," said
MEET TAIWAN deputy managing director, Jerchin Lee.
To showcase southern Taiwan’s convention and exhibition venues, MEET
TAIWAN produced a gamified video exclusively for Taiwan Incentive Talk
that featured exciting attractions to visit around the Kaohsiung
Exhibition Center, International Convention Center Kaohsiung and
International Convention Center Tainan and TESL Kaohsiung eSports
Stadium.
New vision: Re-New, Re-Open, Re-Connect, Re-Fresh
Re-Fresh Taiwan epitomises the multicultural spirit and diversity of Taiwanese culture and aims to convey the country’s determination to re-engage with the world.Lee also took the chance to officially unveil Re-Fresh Taiwan — MEET
TAIWAN’s latest campaign, with the slogan: "Re-New, Re-Open, Re-Connect,
Re-Fresh".
This new project aims to highlight the diverse services, varied
destinations, and cultural experiences that Taiwan can provide event
professionals.
Re-Fresh Taiwan demonstrates Taiwan’s readiness “to open its borders
and reconnect MICE stakeholders from all around the world, making Taiwan
an ideal destination for MICE,” Lee said.
Buyers were similarly enthused.
“A lot of our clients are waiting for the Taiwan borders to reopen,”
said Michelle Ng, a representative from WTS Travel & Tours. “Our
clients who are predominantly based in Asia Pacific would prefer flying
short-haul, and Taiwan is in huge demand.”
Ng added that staying up to date with southern Taiwan’s myriad of
offerings would bode well for WTS Travel & Tours, especially with
the impending opening of the Greater Tainan Convention & Exhibition Center.
Likewise, Vilma D.C. Mendoza, president of Mart Evers Travel and
Tours Corporation, said the event provided a “productive and meaningful
experience” as she has “pending groups who wish to travel to Taiwan —
150 for commercial, 200 for real estate and 350 for banking and
finance.
Northstar Travel Group is the official event co-organiser and media partner for Taiwan Incentive Talk, by MEET TAIWAN.