Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) events held in various venues in Macao increased by 18% year-on-year to 412 in the second quarter of 2010, due to a substantial increase in the number of meetings and conferences held (+70). The average duration of MICE events rose from 1.8 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 2.1 days; total number of participants and attendees soared by 129% year-on-year to 131,564. A total of 12 exhibitions were held in the second quarter of 2010, down by 7 year-on-year; nevertheless, the average duration increased from 3.4 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 5.7 days. Number of attendees surged by 269% to 93,701, with two major exhibitions attracting more than 65,000 attendees. Meanwhile, number of meetings & conferences held rose by 21% year-on-year to 400; the average duration stood at 2.0 days, up by 0.2 day, and the number of participants increased by 18% to 37,863. As regards subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (149), IT & Other Technology (52) and Education & Training (45). Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (163), Association Meetings (106) and Government Meetings (69). There were 234 MICE events held in hotels, up by 28 year-on-year, with 225 meetings & conferences and 9 exhibitions. The average duration increased from 2.1 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 2.9 days, drawing a total of 60,476 participants and attendees, with 64% being exhibition attendees. Meanwhile, 178 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues, up by 35 year-on-year, consisting of 175 meetings & conferences and 3 exhibitions. The average duration decreased from 1.5 days in the second quarter of 2009 to 1.1 days, bringing in a total of 71,088 participants and attendees, with 55,200 (78% of total) being attendees to the exhibitions. In the first half year of 2010, there were 809 MICE events held in Macao, up by 79 (+11%) year-on-year. The average duration increased by 0.2 day to 2.2 days; number of participants and attendees rose by 7% year-on-year to 224,301.
