[Seoul, July 28] The Korean outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been officially declared over, according to South Korean prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. The announcement was made on July 28th, 23 days after the last suspected case, with no new cases reported.


"After weighing various circumstances, the medical personnel and the government judge that the people can now be free from worry," said Mr. Hwang on Tuesday, according to Yonhap. The statement comes amidst a flurry of increased activity for Korea’s tourism and business events sector; with 3,000 employees of Chinese health products company He He Kang Yuan (北京和合康源科技?展有限公司) departing from Tianjin on July 27th for a six-day cruise trip to Seoul and Incheon.

Meanwhile, the country recently secured two major event and travel bid wins for 2016, including a Chinese incentive tour in May for 15,000 employees of health product company Joymain International Development Group Inc. (南京中?科技?展有限公司) ? the largest-ever incentive travel group ever to visit Korea by airplane. Busan, meanwhile, won hosting duties for next year’s 27th FISM World Championships to Magic, to be attended by an expected 2,500 participants from 50 countries. 

With inbound travel to the country returning to normal, the Korea Tourism Organization recently launched its 100-day Tourism Recovery Plan, aimed at revitalizing the industry and attracting international visitors back to the country, thereby normalizing the tourism demand enjoyed by Korea prior to the outbreak.


Under the plan, the KTO will focus on promoting Korea’s distinctive touristic appeal to the global community by inviting foreign media and key industry decision makers to participate in sponsored programs in the nation’s main tourism destinations. The programs explore popular interests such as Korean cuisine, major local attractions, and hallyu (Korean Wave)-related content. 


Earlier in the month, KTO International Tour Marketing executive vice president Rhee  Jae-sung stated that the plan aimed to capitalize on traditional holiday periods in neighboring countries, such as the three-day Obon Festival and “Silver Week” held in Japan during August and September respectively, and China’s Golden Week holiday period in early October.

The MERS outbreak significantly impacted the Korean economy since the first case was reported on May 20th, with the nation’s largest feeder markets, namely China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, accounting for the biggest drop in inbound travel to Korea.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) consistently maintained that it “does not recommend travel or trade restrictions with regard to this event”, while most countries did not issue any travel warnings.

SINGAPORE (July 21, 2015) -- The second-annual Asia Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange (AMITE) hosted 37 leading MICE buyers from across the globe on 1 July, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. AMITE is the leading one-to-one event bringing global meeting planners together with Asia-based suppliers. 

Organized by Questex Travel Group and the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), AMITE 2015 brought suppliers together with thoroughly vetted buyers representing more than US$460 million in MICE contracts from European, North American and Asian countries.

The event kicked off with a pre-meeting familiarization trip in Chiang Mai and Bangkok organized by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). It was followed by a familiarization tour in Singapore arranged by AONIA, visiting 11 event venues via river cruise and land tour.

In additional to the cultural enrichments and site visits, more than 580 signature pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings were the highlights of AMITE 2015. Proposals were requested and insights were exchanged between buyers and suppliers to establish future working relations.

“I'm really grateful for a chance to visit so many places and venues in such a short time and in such a comfortable way,” said Alexander Kazantsev, senior expert of Otkrytie Travels from Russia. “I am glad to experience myself the services which we are likely to offer to our clients in future.”

“AMITE was an extremely well-organised event. The organisers were conscientious, diligent, very creative and imaginative,” added Brian Morris, CEO of Crescent Associates from United Kingdom.

Sponsors and suppliers include Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Grand Hyatt Singapore, Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau, Marina Bay Sands, The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa, Managed by Accor, Club Med, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Dorsett Hospitality International, Regal Hotels International, Shanghai CTS MICE Co, Ltd., and Starwood Asia Pacific.

“AMITE was a great platform for us to reach out to MICE agencies and communicate with them directly on one-to-one meeting opportunity. We received great potential leads for few hotels across the region during this 1 full day event,” said Romrawin Poo-eaim, Senior Regional Sales Manager at Best Western International – Asia. “Thank you for a user-friendly matching system, a nice selection of promising buyers and a convenient event location.”

AMITE 2015 was held in conjunction with the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF), organised by SACEOS on 2-3 July.

AMITE returns to Singapore on 27 July 2016. For more information, visit questexevents.net/AMITE.

The Best Achievement in Entertainment Category has been reinstated for Australian Event Awards 2015 following consultation with the entertainment industry. The category recognises an outstanding achievement in entertainment at an event or events between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015.

As a broad category, Best Achievement in Entertainment seeks to highlight the creative diversity of entertainment in the events industry and the considerable talents of those who deliver innovative performances and entertainment solutions to suit an enormous range of events catering to different audiences and purposes.

Entertainment agencies, entertainers and others in the events industry are encouraged to enter their achievements in this category before the 10 August close of entries.

Entries can be completed at www.eventawards.com.au. 

[Seoul, July 13] Korea’s international business events calendar has been largely unaffected by the recent MERS outbreak, which is now subsiding, says the Korea Tourism Organization. According to the KTO, no major international congresses scheduled for 2015 have been canceled, while events such as June’s International Council of Nurses (ICN) 2015 Conference took place with strong attendance at the height of the scare, showing global confidence in Korea’s safety as reflected by World Health Organization and state-level agencies worldwide advocating normal travel advisories for the country throughout the incident.

"The existing concern about the MERS chaos isn't as serious as we thought it would be,” said a spokesperson for ICN 2015 Korean organizer, the Korea Nurses Association (KNA). Attended by 15,000 participants from 120 countries; including 3,000 from overseas, ICN 2015, which was held from June 19-23 at Coex, saw professional nurses from across the world convene to build cross-cultural understanding, global cooperation, and discuss key issues within the nursing profession. The conference’s opening ceremony included attendance by both South Korean president Park Geun-hye and WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan.

Along with ICN 2015, no major international congresses were canceled this year, with some only experiencing changes in scheduling, according to the KTO. In addition, earlier this month, global DMC Pacific World revealed South Korea was Asia’s number one destination for business events enquiries in their latest Destination Index.

Korea’s congress schedule for the second half of 2015 remains sturdy, with September, for example, welcoming to Pyeongchang - host of the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics - the 6th International Wildland Fire Conference, while November will bring to Seoul the 2015 World Road Congress. Meanwhile, in October, Busan will celebrate the 20th edition of the Busan International Film Festival, which anticipates a total audience of about 220,000 persons from 79 countries, including global buyers for the annual BIFF Asian Film Market.

As of July 13, there have been 186 confirmed cases of MERS, of which 33 of the sufferers are currently hospitalized. All confirmed cases of the infection have been limited strictly to within hospitals, with no documented external transmission of the virus. In addition, there have been no reported cases of the infection amongst foreign visitors, including international congress attendees. With no additional cases of MERS having been reported since July 7th, it is expected that the South Korean government will give an official all-clear announcement at the beginning of August.

This week, the KTO, along with other travel and tourism entities such as Asiana and Lotte Duty Free, will host a sponsored tour for 200 major Chinese travel influencers such as tour companies, journalists, and prominent bloggers, to help alleviate concerns about South Korea in relation to MERS. The nation’s largest feeder market, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan accounted for the biggest drop in inbound travel to Korea due to MERS, with concerns over the disease exacerbated by the SARS epidemic the previous decade. The sponsored tour, scheduled for July 15-18, will include a visit to some of Seoul’s most popular tourism destinations as well as a walk around the popular Myeong-dong district accompanied by Seoul mayor Park Won-soon.

For more information about the current MERS situation in Korea or any of the issues mentioned above, please contact the KTO via mice@knto.co.kr.