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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will begin accepting requests for pilot testing of large-scale meetings of up to 250 people from October 1, as part of plans to gradually resume economic activities in the country.
Organizers of such Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) events must demonstrate their ability to implement safe management measures, the agency said on Monday (September 7).
STB and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MTI) will review all MICE event proposals, and organizers may only proceed with MTI approval.
There will be pilot events taking place under this arrangement, such as the Singapore International Energy Week Conference in October.
As more insights and data are gained through these pilot events, STB will work with the MICE industry to adapt and fine-tune protocols for secure business events, the agency said.
READ: COVID-19 risk management framework to be tested in 2 pilot trade events: STB
“This move to begin accepting applications for pilot events of up to 250 attendees also takes into account the importance of the MICE industry, as well as strong industry interest and demand for trade events,” said STB.
The MICE industry supported more than 34,000 jobs with an economic added value of S $ 3.8 billion, or nearly 1 percent of Singapore’s GDP, according to a study commissioned by STB last year. Business travelers also spend almost twice as much as leisure travelers, making them high-performing visitors.
An events industry resilience roadmap, developed with industry input, will be released later this month to provide guidance on security measures and best practices.
Keith Tan, CEO of STB, said: “The MICE sector is strategic to the Singapore economy, and its safe and gradual resumption will safeguard jobs and core skills. It will also help those in related sectors such as hospitality and aviation.
“Public health and safety remains our top priority and we have worked closely with the industry to create strict protocols and develop new ways to host events.
“These pilot events and solutions will help Singapore lead the way as a safe, reliable and innovative destination for MICE events.”
NEW MICE VISITOR EXPERIENCES
To give peace of mind to business travelers coming to Singapore, industry and government agencies are coming up with new protocols and ways to host events and for visitors to tour Singapore, STB said.
For example, a travel insurance product for inbound travelers is being developed to cover critical expenses related to COVID-19, and is expected to be ready by the fourth quarter of this year.
Foreign delegates to pilot events should also use TraceTogether to facilitate contact tracing.
A prototype for secure trade shows and exhibitions, developed in partnership with the private sector, has been designed to allow delegates to interact at the fair, but in a more secure way that minimizes the risks of infection.
For example, delegates will be grouped into smaller cohorts and the flow of visitors will be carefully designed to minimize mixing.
This will be tested at a few trade shows, starting with a new event in November called TravelRevive, which is organized by ITB Asia and supported by STB.
READ: Tours in Singapore can now take up to 50 people, with participants divided into subgroups
At the event, international delegates and companies will come together to exchange ideas and reimagine the future of travel, STB said.
The new trade show and exhibition protocols were developed by the Alliance for Action to Enable Safe and Innovative Visitor Experiences, co-chaired by Mr. Lee Seow Hiang of Changi Airport Group and Ms. Kwee Wei-Lin of the Hotel Association from Singapore, and working closely with the industry. stakeholders such as the National Association of Travel Agents.
It has also explored ways to facilitate safe and innovative experiences for visitors in Singapore amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safe itineraries designed by the alliance will be tested with TravelRevive MICE delegates.
For example, private group tours, with a dedicated tour guide offering concierge-like services, could be in the cards.
“In preparation for TravelRevive, the Alliance is working with relevant government agencies and industry stakeholders to implement digital enablers that facilitate a safe and seamless visitor experience from arrival to departure,” said STB.
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