MEET TAIWAN, a pilot programme designed to promote Taiwan as a MICE destination was unveiled in August at the Prince Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event saw representatives from six of Taiwan’s premium MICE suppliers, as well as more than 80 representatives from Malaysia in attendance for a get together, to discuss and explore the highly potential MICE market.

The event was sponsored by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and implemented by TAITRA and Taiwan Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. The organisers aim is to promote the MEET TAIWAN brand and to further enhance Taiwan’s reputation as a global destination which will attract more visitors to the island.

Six premium MICE suppliers were in attendance, providing information about MICE Taiwan were; Kuching Travel Service, WOW City, Tian-An International Travel Agency, GIS Group, Asia Concentrate Corporation and the MSL Group.

With regards to gaining ground in the new business market, according to Chang Ming, director of the economic division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, records from Taiwan Tourism Bureau show that some 138 International incentive groups visited the Island in the first half 2014. Japan is ranked first in arrivals, accounting for 10,900 visitors in 83 incentive trips. Malaysia came in third on the list with 1227 visitors in 14 incentive trips.

In addition 8,016,280 people visited Taiwan in year 2013, a year on year increase of 9.64 per cent. Malaysians make up for 394,326 of the visitors and Taiwan has emerged as one of the most preferred travel destinations for Malaysians.

Chang Ming also pointed out that Taiwan’s BOFT has been actively promoting the island as a MICE destination since 2009, and the MEET TAIWAN session this year will foster greater interaction between the Taiwan MICE industry and Malaysian businesses, this to serve as a platform to promote Taiwan to more Malaysians.

According to Lily Su the director of the MEET TAIWAN programme, the initiative is a four year plan undertaken by BOFT, and has made significant inroads since it was launched in 2013. Statistics indicate that last year alone it had successfully facilitated a total of 185 international conventions in Taiwan and had also assisted in hosting 107 corporate incentive travel events to the island, which include Mc Donald’s (China) Group Manager and development Convention 2013, with 2,500 members of management from 27 provinces of China, Amway (China) and Amway (Thailand) sent their 12,000 and 2,000 top achievers respectively to Taiwan for the corporate mega incentive programme 2013.