South Korea launches 2012 Korea Convention Year

Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization in cooperation with seven MICE Alliances in regional convention destinations, the campaign, which will overlap with the final year of the Visit Korea Year 2010-2012, will see government support and incentives for events held in the country increase up to twofold for qualified meetings, conventions and incentive tours.

Convention centres and hotels will offer discounts of up to 30 per cent off the published rates for meetings venues, while hotels will offer up to 40 per cent discount on rooms, complimentary room upgrade and welcome amenities for designated guests.

Complimentary site inspection trips may be arranged for qualifying organisations, and special discounts for the organiser of the meetings and conventions as well as their participants are available on Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Incentives like tickets for traditional performances, souvenirs and tour programmes may also be provided for qualified events.

In addition, the programme has joined forces with the Korea MICE Alliance, so that each city’s unique incentive plans are maximised for participants in any of the nine convention destinations across the country. On a national level, Korea Tourism Organization will increase financial subsidies to the organisers of MICE events.

To qualify for the Korea Convention Year’s incentive programme, conventions should meet the Union of International Associations meeting standards, while incentive tours and corporate meetings should have more than 100 participants.

The event, which may take place in South Korea anytime between 2012 and 2015, must be confirmed by end-2012. Events with more than 500 participants from the Asian region, or those with more than 1,000 international participants, may qualify for airline discounts.

Source: TTG Asia