BOI crafts roadmap for MICE industry

MANILA, Philippines - The Board of Investments (BOI) is teaming up with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc. (PACEOS) to craft a roadmap for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.

“We recognize the importance of tourism as one of the main drivers for inclusive growth since it is one of the largest employment generators in the country,” Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez said.

“The agreement will boost the local tourism industry. Once the MICE roadmap is in place, it will lead to more investments not only in the accommodation sector, but also in the infrastructure side,” Ceferino Rodolfo, Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head added.

The planned MICE roadmap will seek to enhance the industry’s competitiveness through assessment and formulation of actions plans to address issues and concerns.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said the MICE industry has been identified by the DOT as one of the main tourism products in the country’s National Tourism Development Plan.

Bengzon said the MICE industry would be an important part of the DOT’s goal to increase foreign tourist arrivals to 12 million by 2022.

With BOI’s support in the crafting of the MICE roadmap, Bengzon said the realization of the country’s tourism development goals would be achieved.

Last year, the Philippines registered 5.36 million tourist arrivals.

Under the agreement of the three parties, the BOI will provide funding support while the DOT will give support through conceptualization, organization, conduct of focus group discussions and consultation meetings in crafting of the roadmap.

PACEOS, meanwhile, will provide administrative assistance to the consultant who will be crafting the roadmap.

The organization will also monitor the activities relative to the preparation, drafting, finalization and approval of the roadmap and its implementation.

PACEOS is a non-profit association composed of professional events and exhibition/convention organizers, venue owners, booth contractors, freight forwarders and hotels, as well as institutions offering allied services such as travel and tour agencies, airlines and printing.

PACEOS aims to make the country a leading exhibition and convention destination in the ASEAN region.