Meeting 'Gyeonggi MICE Day' on YouTube...Will it Revitalize the MICE Industry?

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] 'Gyeonggi MICE Day,' a festival for MICE (MICE: corporate meetings, business tourism, conventions, exhibitions, and events) industry workers and MICE-major university students in Gyeonggi Province, will be held on the 15th.

Gyeonggi MICE Day, hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, is the largest annual MICE event in Gyeonggi Province and has been held as an in-person event every December, including awards for those with merit. However, this year, it will be held non-face-to-face through YouTube due to the strengthening of social distancing measures.

Gyeonggi MICE Day consists of Parts 1 and 2 in total. Part 1 targets MICE professionals nationwide and event organizers such as academic societies and associations, while Part 2 is conducted for university students majoring in MICE/tourism nationwide in connection with a university student MICE competition.

Part 1 programs include ▲Busking Trip (indie band performance) ▲Untact interview ▲MICE Negotiation King ▲MICE People O/X quiz ▲Governor's commendation for meritorious service ▲Gyeonggi Province MICE people video.

Beginning with an indie band 'Bulgogi Disco' busking performance at Siheung Wave Park, an 'Untact interview' with Kim Yong-seop, head of the 'Sharp Imagination Research Institute,' on 'Current Status and Prospects of the MICE Industry' and Q&A; with participants follow.

'MICE Negotiation King,' the highlight of Part 1, was designed with the aim of attracting MICE events to Gyeonggi Province and revitalizing the sluggish MICE industry.

For seven MICE facilities slated for next year including Sonocamp Goyang, KINTEX, and Suwon Messé, rental fees are provided with discounts of up to 70% for event organizers who comment in real-time through YouTube.

An O/X quiz with 48 MICE professionals and a 'Gyeonggi Province MICE People video' containing the feelings and wishes of MICE people over the year conclude Part 1, overcoming the limitations of online participation.

Part 2 programs consist of ▲University student JOB concert ▲University student MICE competition awards ▲Untact scholarship quiz show ▲Busking Trip (busking performance).

An online participation program features a JOB concert where 48 MICE university students and job seekers meet with mentor groups in various MICE fields, followed by an O/X competition among six MICE-related universities and concluding with a busking performance by singer-songwriter Kim Su-young against the backdrop of Pocheon Hantan River Sky Bridge.

The Gyeonggi Province MICE University Student Idea Competition, hosted by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, received applications from a total of 75 teams from November 2 to December 1, vying for a total prize pool of 30 million won. Awards will be given to 1 grand prize team, 3 excellence prize teams, 6 merit prize teams, for a total of 10 teams.

Choi Yong-hoon, head of the Tourism Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "The Gyeonggi MICE Day held non-face-to-face this year has strengthened communication and participation programs in an effort to overcome the limitations of online and secure both fun and substance," adding, "Next year, we will prepare for the rapidly changing MICE environment after COVID-19, support the establishment of video conferencing systems, and strengthen various hybrid MICE events combining online and offline to lead the MICE industry."