From bubble tea to 5G: Taiwan’s open-arms approach to cutting-edge innovation

The global meeting industry is making a strong comeback in 2023, thanks to the eagerness of the business events community to meet in person again. As competition for face-to-face meetings intensifies, the pressure is on MICE planners to organise events that justify the time, cost, and effort of travel. Sustainable meeting practices and tools are also becoming critical.

Free-thinking and dynamic, Taiwan’s economy has been at the cutting-edge of global technological change for decades. This makes the island a natural choice for corporate trailblazers or associations to hold their events, providing organisers with a sophisticated transport and digital communication infrastructure capable of delivering meetings and incentives of all kinds of complexity.

With its warm culture, safe and vibrant cities, and its strong drive towards sustainability, planners and delegates alike will be welcomed in Taiwan with open arms, while Taiwanese ingenuity will open up minds to new possibilities and perspectives.

Smart, safe, and globally connected

It’s little wonder that Taiwan has regularly featured in international rankings of preferred destinations by international societies and by participants themselves when its natural and social resources are so rich.

Taiwan’s international airports connect the island to most of the major regional hubs within just a few hours’ flight. Dependable internal rail and flight services mean that combining two or more destinations, even with an itinerary of just a few days, is a stress-free experience.

Connecting cities on the island’s western coast, the Taiwan High Speed Rail network provides event organisers with an unbeatably diverse range of options to build their own tailor-made programmes. Local destination management companies can just as easily include elements that would suit a scientific conference as a high-end pampering incentive or a tranquil corporate retreat.

In addition, Taiwan boasts of some of the widest array of accommodation options in Asia, ranging from internationally branded five-star chains with their own spacious meeting facilities to homegrown hospitality brands and intimate boutique properties.

World-class digital leadership

For decades, Taiwan has been at the forefront of technological change that has awed the world. This makes it an obvious choice for ICT and manufacturing sector corporate events, industrial and computer equipment trade shows, and scientific gatherings. COMPUTEX Taipei, Taitronics, and Taipei Cycle are among the key shows that leverage Taiwan’s immense knowledge capital, attracting thousands of foreign attendees from abroad.

Moreover, Taiwan also brings its considerable technical expertise to bear on the meetings experience itself. In this it can thank both its talented pool of events professionals as well as support from a government that is engaged in encouraging all-round innovation.

With 5G technology rapidly transforming meeting rooms, major MICE venues, such as Kaohsiung Exhibition Center and International Convention Center Tainan, have taken big leaps forward to offer seamless hybrid events, live streaming capabilities, and AI-generated simultaneous translation services, making it easier for companies to conduct meetings and reach out to an even wider audience during their time in Taiwan.

A sustainability forerunner

Sparing no efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, Taiwan is demonstrating what a successful transition to renewable energy looks like, with solar and wind power now generating nearly one-third of the island’s energy mix.

Taiwan also brings its technological expertise fully into play to promote truly sustainable events, setting ambitious goals for the MICE industry that it is confident will be reached. The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT ) has rolled out the ‘Sustainable MICE, Taking Strides Towards Net Zero’ project to help industry players achieve the net zero emission goal by 2050, as well as to accomplish the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

This year, the BOFT assisted several entities to obtain various relevant certificates. These include Olily Exhibition Design (ISO20121); Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centers I and II (ESG report); Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre (ISO14064-1:2018 and ISO50001); and Big Dome Event Rental Service (ISO14064-1:2018).

Inspiring settings like no other

Food is always an essential part of any destination’s culture and nowhere is this truer than in Taiwan, whose dining scene is as rich as its culture.

Whether organising a tour of the cities’ night markets or planning a gala dinner, Taiwan serves up outstanding culinary experiences to delegates, from local favourites such as beef noodle soup, dumplings, and all types of teas from oolong to bubble, as well as almost every kind of Asian and international dishes imaginable.

Across the island, Taiwan’s bustling destinations provide a delightful contrast from town to town, city to city. From the breath-taking Taroko Gorge to the sweeping black sands of Cijin Island, Taiwan offers inspiring destinations and venues from north to south.  

Plus, the island is also home to numerous Aboriginal peoples, with their unique customs and folklore. Organisers will certainly want to incorporate these diverse elements into the cultural side of their programmes.

All across Taiwan, expect to encounter warm hospitality everywhere you go. The island will genuinely open its arms for you and your team.

Are you interested in hosting or organising an event in Taiwan? Contact the MEET TAIWAN team, who will welcome you with open arms.  
Contact: mpo@meettaiwan.com
More details: www.meettaiwan.com

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