Shawn Tan
Image credit: Singapore Expo
In line with plans to kickstart economic activities in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will begin accepting applications for organisers to hold Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events of up to 250 attendees from Oct. 1, 2020.
All MICE event proposals will be jointly reviewed by STB and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). Event organisers can proceed only if they obtain MTI’s approval. They will also have to demonstrate their ability to implement safe management measures to meet a set of health and safety outcomes.
STB’s events of 250 people and below plan comes after their Safe Business Events Framework, which was first announced in July 2020 for business events of up to 50 participants.
Also read: Singapore, South Korea to Kickstart Fast Lane For Essential Business
Importance of MICE events
The move comes on top of a strong demand for business events in the MICE industry. A 2019 survey by STB revealed that the industry supported over 34,000 jobs with an economic value-add of S$3.8 billion, which is nearly one per cent of Singapore’s GDP. MICE business travellers are also said to spend almost double that of leisure travellers.
According to STB, the gradual resumption of business events can help maintain Singapore’s position as a leading MICE hub. This will also safeguard jobs and livelihoods in the industry and related sectors.
An Event Industry Resilience Roadmap (IRR) will be introduced later this month. The aim is to provide guidance on safety measures in line with the gradual resumption of business events.
Set to benefit from the new relaxation of gathering rules will be The Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) Conference pilot event, scheduled to take place in Oct 2020. Hopefully, STB allowing events of 250 people will allow us to see the smooth return of business activity.
