Following a successful trial in December in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia, PATA will now launch the Tourism Destination Resilience Programme to help industry stakeholders at both the national and sub-national level build their destination resiliency against the Covid pandemic and other future challenges.
The online and in-market training programme offers 10 modules, available on PATA’s Crisis Resource Center website. The modules are open-sourced and available for any tourism professional that wishes to boost their business or destination’s Covid recovery, increase competitiveness and become more resilient and sustainable.
PATA’s latest training programme aims to help tourism professionals and destinations recover from Covid-19 business disruptions and prepare for future crises
Users can expect a comprehensive guide to post-crisis planning, which involves responding to the crisis, rethinking tourism models and, finally, strategising for recovery.
Tourism Destination Resilience is implemented by PATA with support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Vietnam will remove pandemic restrictions on international passenger flights from all markets starting February 15, with the intention to restore flight frequency to pre-pandemic levels.
Vietnam will lift all Covid-19 restrictions on international flights to aid the country’s tourism recovery; Hang En cave pictured
According to state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper, Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said Vietnam has informed her partners about the new policy and only China has yet to agree on commercial flight resumption with Vietnam.
Vietnam has begun her travel and tourism restart, with gradual international flight resumption with 15 markets from the start of 2022 as well as an intended full border reopening to international tourists by April 30.
Come February 14, India will toss out mandatory quarantine and pre-arrival Covid PCR tests for all international travellers coming into the country.
In place of a pre-arrival negative PCR test result, the new requirement only calls for international travellers to submit their primary vaccination schedule completion certificate. This exemption is available to vaccinated travellers from 82 countries that also extend quarantine-free access to Indian nations. Such countries include Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, the US and the UK.
India removes more barriers for international travel into the country; Indira Gandhi International Airport pictured
The announcement, made yesterday on February 10, is met with jubilation across India’s tourism and hospitality industry, with stakeholders confident that the move will send a positive signal in international travel markets.
Gaurav Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, told TTGmice that he was glad to see the exit of mandatory quarantine, as the requirement had “resulted in many international travellers avoiding India”.
He now hopes that the government would resume scheduled international flights “as soon as possible to make the most of the relaxation of earlier curbs”, adding that “a significant improvement in inbound tourist arrivals this year” could be expected with both ease of entry and air accessibility in place.
Vishal Lonkar, general manager, brand development, Renest Hotels & Resorts, expects the new waivers to spur international business and leisure travel to India.
“We hope that our properties in Bangalore and Kolkata, which are near the international airport, will gain (business) momentum,” he added.
India’s easing of border restrictions would see the return of travellers from shorthaul markets first, opined Lally Mathews, managing director, Divine Voyages, as “travellers in Covid times have reservations about travelling long distances”. He added that inbound recovery would be more prominent in the next inbound season, starting October.
How does recovery look like for the exhibitions sector for 2022 and how will Asia factor into this recovery?
Overall, we estimate that Asia recorded an unprecedented 63 per cent drop in net space sold in 2020 compared to 2019. Net space sold fell from the 24.5 million suqare metres recorded in 2019 down to 9.1 million suqare metres in 2020. Without China’s comparatively strong performance (down 53 per cent to 6.8 million suqare metres), the regional average would have been much worse.
Across the region, 2021 turned out to be a repeat of 2020 – a damaging year with limited attempts to return to the business of organising events. While 2022 will be a year of recovery for Asia, the path forward will be an uneven one.
It’s a good thing that the outlook for face-to-face events in Asia, and globally, is still very positive. This can be seen in markets that have allowed in-person events to resume. For example, from July 2020 to June 2021, domestic events in China roared back to life. We can expect the same all across the world as the pandemic recedes.
In general, factors affecting trade fair recovery in each Asian market will include the government approach to managing Covid (living with Covid versus Covid-zero), the geo-political landscape, the size of the domestic economy and domestic trade fair industry, the importance of international participation, and others.
Larger, more domestically-focused markets such as China, Japan and South Korea will be in a better position to rebound, when compared to internationally-driven markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore and to a lesser extent Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia.
How has the pandemic changed a customer’s value and expectations of exhibitions?
In many ways, the pandemic has reinforced the value of in-person events. Few purely-digital events, if any, have satisfied stakeholders. Of course, event organisers will have to continue to innovate, improve and add value through events, but we are highly confident that business events of all kinds – will continue to meet and surpass the expectations of visitors and exhibitors in the post-pandemic years.
What trends do you foresee for exhibitions?
We expect to see the virus fade as a threat in the coming months as vaccine rates rise and treatments improve.
This will be followed by a strong bounce back for events in 2022 and even more so in 2023. Event organisers will focus on the getting the basics right, and making use of innovative digital tools to deliver value at in-person events. Companies will also be more willing to heighten their investment in people, as people help make events happen. We need good people with strong business events skills more than ever before.
We see a future full of change, potential and growth.
What bothers you most currently about the pandemic?
There are a few things. The slow rollout of vaccinations, travel restrictions, and perhaps most importantly, governments failing to understand that exhibitions are different from other mass gatherings and that we are key driver of economic recovery and growth. So at UFI, we are committed to mitigating these risks in everything we do.
What is UFI doing to get the exhibitions engine roaring once again?
A lot! That has been our core focus for the past 18 months. We are deeply involved in advocacy work – educating governments around the world on how and when to allow events to proceed.
We track the status of exhibition markets as they open worldwide. We share industry guidelines and best practices, and case studies and details of government support for exhibitions on a market-by-market basis. Our wide range of resources is available on UFI’s Coronavirus Resource Page, which is also available to the public.
The Japanese government will extend Covid-19 restrictions in Tokyo and 12 prefectures for another three weeks in response to daily record-breaking Covid-19 infections across the country.
Japan will extend Covid-19 restrictions to curb rising infection numbers, fuelled by the Omicron variant
News reports on February 9 state that prime minister Fumio Kishida would add one more prefecture to the list of regions facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on the business hours of eateries.
Japan’s international borders have been shut for two years, and several states of emergencies were declared throughout the country’s fights against the pandemic.
The lights are back on for live business events in Sydney, although many in the industry are under no illusion that business will return immediately.
Sydney’s events industry has been filled with fresh confidence, as more than 90 per cent of its population has been double-vaccinated. International borders also reopened for the first time since the pandemic started, to gradually welcome overseas visitors and students at the end of 2021.
Sydney has in place a long-term recovery strategy for business events; a busy Sydney Harbour Bridge precinct in pre-pandemic times pictured
The doors were first thrown open to Singapore, Japan and South Korea for fully vaccinated visitors, with more destinations planned for travel bubble arrangements in the new year.
After months of lockdowns and travel restrictions, Sydney is expecting “a big year” and a key role in rebuilding the country’s A$36 billion (US$26 billion) business events sector.
“Sentiment is starting to be very positive for the future,” said BESydney’s director global corporates & incentives, Sinead Yeo.
“Australia’s global city is opening up again – firstly for citizens and their families who have been kept apart, and very soon we will be excited to welcome our international visitors back to show them all of the exciting things that we have been doing while they have been gone,” she continued.
While the pandemic has been playing out in full drama on the world stage and shutting down many gatherings, Sydney announced in September 2020 it would be a 24-hour city featuring late night transport, longer opening hours for cultural institutions, fewer restrictions on live music and reclaimed spaces for activities like outdoor dining and concerts.
Sydney also launched its newest major large-scale function centre in December 2021, offering two floors of state-of-the-art conference and exhibition space.
The new WINX Stand at Royal Randwick, named after the legendary mare who captivated Australia, stands just 10 minutes from Sydney’s CBD and is accessible by Sydney’s new dedicated light-rail service.
A number of new hotels have opened too while borders were closed, such as the Crown Sydney at Barangaroo and M Gallery by Sofitel Porter House.
However, industry frontliners expect business will return in small and measured ways.
“We’re watching the trends in the Northern Hemisphere, and we know it is most likely that smaller groups will return first,” said Yeo.
“Our sense from talking with our clients is that those with larger groups will be a little more cautious to start and pace their return. It is very clear that companies will be looking to destinations like Australia that have handled the pandemic and put strong protocols in place for their first point of travel,” she continued.
ICC Sydney, the city’s flagship convention centre has also been working hard to prepare for the return of live events, and will start the new year with more than 90 international events in the pipeline out to 2031.
“We never closed (during the pandemic),” said ICC Sydney CEO Geoff Donaghy.
“There were times when we couldn’t do face-to-face meetings but we were ready to spring back and snap back as soon as circumstances allowed, and that’s the circumstances we’re in now. We’re looking forward to being in Asia in early 2022 in conjunction with Business Events Australia,” he added.
ICC Sydney has also been proactively engaging with the city’s activation programmes that will take place across the summer to get Sydney-siders back into the city and promote Sydney again to the international market. The convention centre itself is hosting an experiential exhibition called Neighbourhood Earth, inviting an expected 150,000 visitors into an interactive, science-inspired space.
“We’re showing to the city community that it’s perfectly safe and advisable to come to events at the centre, and it’s a matter of starting that snowballing effect of momentum, creating confidence that events are safe. It’s safe to come to Sydney and to ICC Sydney,” he stressed.
Meantime, although one of Sydney’s most significant source markets for business events visitors, China, is still closed, decisions are being made within corporate circles that could see Chinese tourists returning from 2023.
“There is a general feeling among corporates that they will be pushing ahead with overseas trips even if it means they need to quarantine upon their return,” said Shanghai-based managing director of PTC Express Travel, Christopher Zhang.
“And I think in general, the bureau in Australia is doing a fantastic job because over the last 18 months, a lot of bureaus pulled out of China, especially from smaller destinations.
“But Tourism Australia and some of the state bureaus have stayed active in the marketplace, which may have been the right thing to do because pre-pandemic, there were over a hundred destinations promoting in China and it was very difficult to get your voice heard – you had to spend big to stand out,” he elaborated.
Zhang also said Australia was likely to be preferred to other Asian destinations because the Chinese found the greater cultural contrast more attractive.
New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, is an ideal location for event organisers looking for a world-class experience.
The city has undergone large-scale change in the last decade, creating New Zealand’s newest city, filled with modern infrastructure, stunning landscapes and fascinating culture.
Business events are well catered for in Christchurch, as are attending delegates staying in the main urban hub of the South Island, with all the resources needed to plan a world-class event close at hand.
At the city’s core is Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. An architectural and social landmark, it has been designed as the welcoming heart of Christchurch, just 20 minutes’ drive from Christchurch International Airport, which features direct flights from major cities throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Varied spaces within Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre
1 of 5
Ground Floor Foyer space, showcasing Hana artwork
Rakaia Pre-Function Area
Auditorium
Dobson Rooms
Rivers Room
Opened in December 2021, Te Pae Christchurch is set to change the business events landscape in New Zealand, offering a nationally-unrivalled modern and uplifting space.
The Centre’s name – gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, the traditional Māori owners of the land – means ‘gathering place’, an apt designation for a place designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
With a unique architectural and design story, intertwining Māori culture and history with references to the landscape of the surrounding region, coupled with a focus on showcasing a true taste of New Zealand, Te Pae Christchurch provides delegates with an experience unlike any other.
A selection of dishes from Te Pae Christchurch’s current menus
Able to accommodate a range of events, meetings and exhibitions, the Centre features a 1,400-seat auditorium and 24 meeting rooms, up to 3,300m2 of exhibition space and a 1,000-seat riverside banquet hall.
As the first of New Zealand’s new generation of convention centres, Te Pae Christchurch also features state-of the-art technology, ensuring it is well equipped to host in-person, virtual or hybrid events.
Proudly managed by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management company, Te Pae Christchurch’s global-meets-local philosophy combines the very best knowledge and experience from ASM Global’s worldwide team with local expertise and commitment to manaakitanga (hospitality).
That knowledge and experience is evident in ASM Global’s VenueShield hygiene and sanitisation protocols, developed in conjunction with world health experts and implemented at its properties across the world, including Te Pae Christchurch. Event organisers can be confident the enhanced health measures will provide a safe environment for delegates.
Situated within a compact, walkable inner-city CBD, Te Pae Christchurch is within walking distance of more than 2,500 hotel rooms, and some of the city’s best restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.
With easy access to a multitude of cultural and outdoor activities, Christchurch is also known as the gateway to New Zealand’s stunning South Island, making it the perfect jumping off point for delegates wanting to explore stunning landscapes, or enjoy a thrill-seeking few days before heading home.
To enquire about hosting your event in New Zealand’s newest gathering place – Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre – please contact the friendly team on info@tepae.co.nz, phone +64 3 266 1400 or visit www.tepae.co.nz
Manila is ready to host the WTTC event; Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, pictured
The Philippines is gearing up to launch its first-ever global MICE campaign, to promote and continue its development of the country as a top international business events destination as borders reopen.
This comes on the heels of the Tourism Promotions Board’s (TPB) teams having initiated talks with professional medical and wellness associations, some of which already have events calendered, shared Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, TPB’s chief operating officer, at a recent media briefing.
Manila is ready to host the WTTC event; Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, pictured
Confirmed events include the 21st Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in Manila, as well as the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in Subic which will set sail in March after its original schedule in 2020 was disrupted by the pandemic. The yachts have been left in Subic Bay Yacht Club but organisers and race crew are set to return to the Philippines next month.
Travel trade stakeholders welcome the business events push, a key driver for the tourism sector, and one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.
Matt Poonin, general manager of Travelite Travel and Tours, said the global campaign is a “good opportunity” to promote the country, and with the WTTC hosting, all eyes will also be on how the Philippines can hold the event safely while the pandemic is still ongoing.
“TPB has also identified several MICE destinations like Manila, Clark, Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Davao (which will help kick off global promotions). MICEConnect 2021, held in Boracay last November, is proof to local and international organisers that we are ready to deal with the volume of arrivals,” Poonin stressed.
He added that health and safety protocols, to safeguard the welfare of visitors, will be top priority.
Bernadette de Leon, general manager of Amiable Intertours, concurred, stating her eagerness to welcome visitors to Philippine shores again. She shared that her company will be fine-tuning health protocols to ensure that they adhere to standards set by the World Health Organization.
De Leon added that the tourism pause for the last two years has a silver lining, where the Philippines has taken the opportunity to improve on and add to its business events hardware, as well as recalibrate the country’s MICE Roadmap.
IT&CM China and CTW China has partnered with Dragon Trail International for the third consecutive year running, to help seamlessly connect in-person event attendees in China with the rest of the world.
Dragon Trail’s latest hybrid technology to be showcased at the Shanghai event enables in-person, mixed in-person and remote, or fully remote meetings powered by video conferencing.
A screenshot of the IT&CM China landing page
Virtual networking event attendees will also experience knowledge and networking sessions on mobile, PC or the WeChat mini-programme, all of which offer both live streaming and on-demand playback for enhanced access and participation flexibility.
The three-day in-person event will be held from May 24-26, 2022, in Shanghai, while the virtual networking event will happen from June 15-16, 2022.
The inaugural edition of IBTM Asia Pacific will now take place September 6-7, 2022, at Marina Bay Sands, following a decision to postpone the event from April 5-6, 2022.
The debut event for the region was earlier postponed twice due to pandemic concerns.
An artist’s rendering of the inaugural IBTM APAC
IBTM Asia Pacific is expected to welcome exhibitors from over 40 countries, as well as pre-qualified hosted buyers and visitors, who will be involved with one-on-one business meetings, as well as attend educational programmes, and networking sessions with peers.
This event will be coupled with the first edition of Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) X IBTM Asia Pacific, organised in partnership with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS).
The SMF X IBTM Asia Pacific on September 5 will feature content to ensure delegates obtain insights needed to deliver show-stopping events.
Richard Ireland, SACEOS’ acting president, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has made it abundantly clear that there is no better channel to do business, collaborate and educate than in-person events. And the region’s MICE industry has been longing for the opportunity to be able to come together and reconnect with high-quality suppliers, destinations, venues and buyers.
“The SMF x IBTM Asia Pacific will not only provide a safe and powerful platform to do so, but it will also showcase the region’s commitment and readiness towards the reopening of MICE travel and events,” he added.
IBTM Asia Pacific is the sister event to IBTM World and IBTM Americas.
Behind the imposing, Brutalist concrete that defines Zurich’s Oerlikon district lies a surprising secret. While its exterior honours the neighbourhood’s industrial roots, stepping inside Mama Shelter reveals a vibrant, neon-soaked world that is a far cry from its rigid shell
A polished urban retreat designed for business travellers, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown combines thoughtful design, seamless service, and exceptional facilities.
To enquire about hosting your event in New Zealand’s newest gathering place – Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre – please contact the friendly team on 
Come February 14, India will toss out mandatory quarantine and pre-arrival Covid PCR tests for all international travellers coming into the country.
In place of a pre-arrival negative PCR test result, the new requirement only calls for international travellers to submit their primary vaccination schedule completion certificate. This exemption is available to vaccinated travellers from 82 countries that also extend quarantine-free access to Indian nations. Such countries include Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, the US and the UK.
The announcement, made yesterday on February 10, is met with jubilation across India’s tourism and hospitality industry, with stakeholders confident that the move will send a positive signal in international travel markets.
Gaurav Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, told TTGmice that he was glad to see the exit of mandatory quarantine, as the requirement had “resulted in many international travellers avoiding India”.
He now hopes that the government would resume scheduled international flights “as soon as possible to make the most of the relaxation of earlier curbs”, adding that “a significant improvement in inbound tourist arrivals this year” could be expected with both ease of entry and air accessibility in place.
Vishal Lonkar, general manager, brand development, Renest Hotels & Resorts, expects the new waivers to spur international business and leisure travel to India.
“We hope that our properties in Bangalore and Kolkata, which are near the international airport, will gain (business) momentum,” he added.
India’s easing of border restrictions would see the return of travellers from shorthaul markets first, opined Lally Mathews, managing director, Divine Voyages, as “travellers in Covid times have reservations about travelling long distances”. He added that inbound recovery would be more prominent in the next inbound season, starting October.