Plans for Making Singapore Competitive Destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling’s inquiry regarding Singapore’s strategies to remain a competitive MICE destination, focusing on workforce availability and infrastructure expansion. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong stated that the Singapore Tourism Board will focus on trust, innovation, and sustainability to anchor leading global events. He highlighted the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme and new sustainability certifications as key tools, while noting that the tourism workforce has reached 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The Minister also shared that new MICE spaces are being planned to accommodate evolving event formats even as current capacity remains sufficient. These efforts, supported by industry partners like SACEOS, aim to reinforce Singapore's position as a top-tier destination for high-value conventions and exhibitions.
Transcript
24 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is Singapore's plan in its aim to be a competitive destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE); (b) whether a relevant workforce will be available to support her aspiration to become the world's best MICE destination; and (c) whether an expansion of infrastructures is expected in order to achieve the goal.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Singapore's value proposition as a leading meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) venue is the quality of our infrastructure, the quality of services and experiences we provide, as well as our connectivity to the world.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will build on our strengths in three ways.
First, trust. We are trusted as a neutral venue to convene talent, ideas and capital from all over the world. STB will continue to anchor leading industry events, such as the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, the Singapore Fintech Festival, the Singapore Airshow, the Singapore International Cyber Week and Asia Tech x Singapore.
Second, innovation. As a hub for research and development and technology, we will pursue events that provide a launchpad to advance new ideas, products and businesses. For example, the International Trademark Association 2023 Annual Meeting Live+ we hosted here, in May 2023, organised an Open Innovation Challenge which produced winning ideas, such as an artificial intelligence-based solution for trademark management and advancing business efficiencies in the industry.
Third, sustainability. Singapore is set to become a leading sustainable MICE destination in Asia Pacific. We have put in place targets, standards and certification to achieve this ambition together with our industry partners.
The Singapore MICE Advantage Programme (SMAP) is one of the tools STB uses to attract key events to Singapore. SMAP offers privileges to event organisers and MICE delegates, such as discounts on travel logistics and tourist experiences in Singapore. SMAP is fully funded by participating industry partners, such as Singapore Airlines Limited, Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Sentosa Development Corporation.
STB also makes long-term plans to address the MICE sector's infrastructure and workforce needs.
We are planning for new MICE spaces as business events evolve in format and scale, even while there is sufficient capacity in existing major MICE venues to meet current demand.
As for manpower, total tourism workforce including that of our MICE industry has recovered to 86 percent of pre-pandemic levels. STB works closely with industry partners including the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) to ensure that our MICE workforce continue to upgrade their skills and meet the evolving needs of the industry. For example, STB and SACEOS launched the Singapore MICE Sustainability Certification process in January to rally the industry to adopt sustainable practices and deepen sustainability competencies.
With these initiatives and efforts, we are confident that Singapore will be able to host more high-value and world-class MICE events in future and remain the "World’s Best MICE City".