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Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events of up to 250 attendees will be accepted by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) from 1 October under a trial.
Applications to pilot large-scale Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events of up to 250 attendees will be accepted by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) from 1 October under a trial, reported TODAY.
Such events being piloted are currently limited to 50 attendees.
STB said the move to start accepting applications for larger events takes into account the importance of the MICE industry as well as the robust industry interest in and demand for business events.
A MICE economic impact assessment commissioned by STB in 2019 showed that the industry supported over 34,000 jobs with an economic value add of $3.8 billion or almost 1% of the city-state’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Moreover, business travellers spend almost double the amount than that by leisure travellers, making them high-yield visitors.
“The gradual resumption of business events will help maintain Singapore’s position as a leading Mice hub and retain critical capabilities, while safeguarding jobs and livelihoods in the industry and other related sectors,” added STB as quoted by TODAY.
All MICE event proposals will be reviewed by STB and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MIT). Organisers can only proceed with such large-scale events upon securing approval from MIT.
One such event taking place under this arrangement is the Singapore International Energy Week conference, which is slated to be held in October.
Organisers should also demonstrate their ability to implement safe management measures, which include limiting overall density of attendees and having infection control measures prior to and after the event.
Infection control measures include ensuring that the TraceTogether mobile application is used by all attendees and holding a pre-departure briefing for foreign attendees who are approved under fast or green lane or air travel pass arrangements.
To monitor for Covid-19 symptoms, organisers are required to submit two reports – one of which is due a day following the event, while the other is due 15 days after the event.
STB said it will release more details on the application at a later stage.
STB’s decision to accept applications to pilot such large scale MICE events comes following the safe business events framework of STB for business events with up to 50 attendees.
Introduced in July, the framework was operationalised with two pilots, one of which was successfully concluded last month, while the second pilot is set to take place in late September.
STB shared that it will work with the MICE industry after the pilots to adjust and adapt its protocols for safe business events.
Speaking following a visit to Marina Bay Sands, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said Singapore’s MICE is industry is unlike those in larger countries that can survive with the help of their domestic market alone.
The minister toured the convention centre’s new tradeshow prototypes and hybrid event broadcast studio, including contactless registration kiosks and meeting pods that showcased new event formats and business models.
“We envisage a seamless and safe journey for people coming into Singapore, doing preparation, even before they arrive in Singapore, have a safe bubble for them from airport to hotel to the MICE meeting event itself, and even to the recreation (activities),” said Chan as quoted by TODAY.
“Thereafter, also to provide them with the assurance that when they depart Singapore, they are in the best of health. That is our vision of how our end-to-end service for the MICE industry will come about.”
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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg