The Macau Business Tourism Centre (MBTC) of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), together with its Japan Representation Team, participated in the 19th International Meeting Exhibition (IME2009) held at the Tokyo International Forum on December 8-9. In order to showcase the exciting MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) developments of the recent Macau, as well as to work collaboratively with the Industry to build a stronger presence of Macau’s MICE Product at similar events around the globe. 6 representatives among them tour operators, hotels and airline from Macau joined MBTC to co-exhibit at the IME2009. The International Meeting Exhibition is the only major MICE tradeshow for meetings and incentive travel held in Japan once every year since 1990. The event is co-organized by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan National Tourist Organization and Japan Congress and Convention Bureau, in hope of promoting MICE as one of the growing sector in Japan. It is also an ideal networking platform for international MICE buyers and sellers to do business. Some 3,000 selected key organizers and planners participated in the IME2009, and among which over 300 business partners were invited by the MGTO Japan Representation Team. The Macau pavilion was the largest in terms of exhibition space out of 64 exhibiters in the trade show, drawing lots of potential event planners’ and organizers’ attention and requests for more information about having incentive tours in Macau. Taking the convenience of time and location, MGTO also conducted a seminar on Macau’s MICE development during the IME. The seminar brought together 22 key agents and event organizers from Japan for service and product updates and business discussions. It was well received by the participants and their response to the program was very positive.
