Asia
Thailand events set to return under safety protocols
Thailand’s Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s (TCEB) proposal to allow the return of in-person MICE events to be held under ‘Covid-19 Free setting’ protocols. The approval follows the government’s announcement, 11 October, that fully vaccinated overseas visitors will be allowed to enter Thailand from 1 November with...
Osaka puts emphasis on its WaO factor with new tools for planners
With Expo 2020 Dubai underway, Osaka is seizing the opportunity to step further into the spotlight as the city’s own Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai moves onto the event horizon. Osaka’s aim is to become Japan’s number one MICE destination and that aspiration is backed up by the Osaka Convention and Tourism Buerau’s (OCTB) creation and release of a new MICE promotional video showcasing Osaka’s vibrant app...
Marina Bay Sands launches the Virtual Meeting Place
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has unveiled a new Virtual Meeting Place, which allows event organisers to customise a virtual venue to replicate a real-life space. MBS claims to be the first venue in the MICE industry to launch such a platform globally, as it aims to effectively connect online and offline audiences. Networking, content delivery and the creation of a global marketplace to promote services ...
Kuala Lumpur one step closer to re-opening
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has welcomed the recent Malaysian Government announcements about domestic travel and tourism bubbles, on the back of the Centre closing as a large-scale vaccination centre (PPV). Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri, the Malaysian prime minister, announced the update allowing domestic and overseas travel for all fully vaccinated Malaysians from 11 October. The Governmen...
Singapore to allow quarantine-free travel to nine more countries, including US and UK
Travellers to and from Singapore vaccinated against Covid-19 will, be able to fly to nine more countries and return without quarantine as the republic announced new moves to reopen its borders. From 19 October, vaccinated travellers be able to fly to Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the United States. The scheme will be extended to South Korea from 15 November, t...
Visit Maldives launches Redefining MICE global campaign: get involved in London, 3 November
Visit Maldives has launched its ‘Redefining MICE’ global campaign to promote the country as a preferred destination for meetings and events. The campaign was launched during a special luncheon held during the annual MICE India and Luxury Travel (MILT) Congress in the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, 5 October. Visit Maldives says the aim of the new campaign is to redefine the business environment, wh...
Hong Kong Government maintains lifeline for convention and exhibition industry
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s (HKSAR) Government has announced the extension of the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme for six months until 31 December 2022, in response to demand from the industry. Part of the Scheme’s funding will also be allocated to provide a one-off immediate relief measure to private organisers of exhibitions that have a clear track record of b...
Bangkok convention centre set for September 2022 re-launch
N.C.C. Management & Development, the Thailand based venue management company, has announced that the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) is set to re-open on schedule in September 2022. 280,000 sqm of the Centre has been re-modelled, which is now five times larger than before. The event space of 78,500 sqm consists of two main exhibition halls, two large conference halls with an a...
Philippines edition of WTTC Global Summit postponed to March 2022
The 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit, due to be held in the Philippines in October, has been postponed to the first quarter of 2022, WTTC has confirmed to CMW. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat announced the news during Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX 2021) in Subic. PHITEX welcomed 156 Philippine suppliers and 122 buyers from 33 countries for the hybrid event. Now the 21st WTTC...
Convention Ambassadors’ tech event wins underline Hong Kong’s I&T hub status
Following the announcement of the return of RISE, one of Asia’s largest tech conferences, in March 2022, Hong Kong has also secured two major technology events for next year – the first Greater Bay Area Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Conference 2022 (GBAAIR Conference), and IEEE Region 10 Conference 2022 (TENCON), which was last held in the city in 2006. The two conferences, local industry l...
IAPCO EDGE Asia-Pacific seminar lines up 11 experts for insightful four days
The International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO) EDGE Asia-Pacific Seminar, 11-14 October, will be four-days of virtual thought leadership and learning events for industry professionals. The seminar will cover topics such as the do’s and don’ts of hybrid conference management as well as practical tips to retaining and supporting staff. The seminar will hear from 11 exper...
MyCEB pleads with the Malaysian government to reopen the business events industry
The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), as the lead agency for the business events industry, has pleaded to the Malaysian Government to reopen the fully vaccinated business events industry as soon as possible. Since the pandemic, Malaysia has recorded 57 postponements and 66 cancellations of significant international events. With the increase in immunisation over the last few months...