China, Hong Kong and Indonesia have emerged as top Asian destinations in the 2018 Special Destinations Report produced by Pacific World and ACCESS.
The report profiles top destinations and explores why they are attracting so much interest among event planners.
Overall, Spain is the most popular, gaining over 15% of Pacific World’s RFPs worldwide. Elsewhere in Europe, the UK, France, Italy and Monaco follow closely behind Spain with 11%, 9%, 8% and 6% of all RFPs received respectively.
In Asia, China tops the list receiving 15% of the requests, followed by Hong Kong (13%), Indonesia (12.5%) and Thailand (11.5%).
In Asia, the hotel boom of China, especially in second-tier cities, has been instrumental in drawing meetings and incentive groups. The growth of the Chinese middle-class consumer and relocation of manufacturing plants have made way for many more mid-scale and budget hotels, which in turn provide more event spaces. Some popular off-the-beaten-track destinations in China include Chengdu and Yunnan.
In Indonesia, Bali will continue to be a hit, but the island of Lombok is gaining interest thanks to its burgeoning infrastructure and unique cultural and natural heritage. Split programmes that combine new areas of Bali and Lombok are demanded on a more regular basis. In the upcoming years, Pacific World predicts a rise in interest for the remote islands of Komodo and Flores, currently attracting leisure programmes with their unique fauna, flora and culture.
“More and more, we keep seeing interest for off-the-beaten-track programmes and destinations. While known destinations are still preferred for incentives, unique experiences are now in demand. This can be visiting remote places, engaging with local people in a more dynamic way, enjoying the unexpected, or having the feeling of being the first person to visit a particular place,” said Patricia Silvio, global marketing manager of Pacific World.
Originally planned for April, the fourth year of premier gastronomic event Madrid Fusion Manila is put on hold following its sudden transfer from the Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).
TPB is negotiating with Spain-based Foro de Debate, owner of the Madrid Fusion franchise, for the new date of the event, according to Maricon Ebron, TPB’s officer-in-charge, office of the deputy chief operating officer for marketing and promotions sector.
Ebron commented that it is now too late to hold it in April as TPB has yet to issue the tenders for the event management and venue, which in the last three years went to the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) and SMX Convention Center Manila, respectively.
Holding it in end-July or early-August is in doubt as well because it will clash with mega event World Food Expo. TPB and Foro de Debate are also concerned about the availability of foreign chefs to participate in Madrid Fusion Manila.
Pamela Samaniego, DoT’s project director for Madrid Fusion Manila 2018, explained that the handling of the gastronomy event was transferred to TPB since the latter is responsible for the venue and event management bids, a standard procedure for government agencies.
The gastronomy event has helped put underrated Filipino cuisine and ingredients onto the international table, gaining the attention of critics and foodies alike as the next big food trend.