Tapping into the potential of MICE tourism.

With its central location in the Central Highlands, tourism combined with conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and event organization (MICE tourism) has been identified by the Dak Lak tourism industry as an advantage for development, contributing to the diversification of tourism types in the province.

Dak Lak has many potentials and advantages for developing MICE tourism.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as of now, the province has approximately 256 tourist accommodation establishments, an increase of nearly 19% compared to the beginning of 2021. Specifically, there are 34 hotels recognized from 1 to 5 stars, 68 unclassified hotels, 133 guesthouses, 7 hostels, 10 homestays, 3 tourist apartments, etc., with 5,357 rooms, meeting the needs and serving MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourist groups.

In addition, the area has many tourist attractions, camping spots, and opportunities to learn about the unique culture of the ethnic minorities, making it very convenient for organizing events and providing tourism experiences for visitors.

In an effort to attract tourists, Dak Lak province is prioritizing investment in and development of high-quality, diverse tourism products offering unique experiences to meet market demands and enhance competitiveness.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thuy Phuong Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, MICE tourism is a type of tourism that Dak Lak's tourism industry is interested in and encourages. This is because this type of tourism can take place at any time of the year, depending on customer demand.

The advantage of MICE tourism is its potential to generate significant revenue due to the large number of visitors simultaneously using multiple services and spending more than regular tour groups.

Indian tourists visit, experience, and learn about the coffee processing process at Vuong Thanh Cong Production and Trading Company Limited (Buon Ma Thuot City).

Dak Lak has hosted and welcomed many large international delegations for events, extended stays, and combined tourism and experiential activities. Numerous national and international conferences, seminars, and cultural, sports, and tourism events have been successfully held in the province. For example: the Business and Investment Conference between India and the Central Highlands provinces held in mid-April 2024; the 2023 International Trade Networking Conference within the framework of the 8th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival; and the Conference on Tourism Development Linkage and Cooperation between Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue, and the Central Highlands provinces…

Ms. Pham Thi Truc Ngan, Head of Sales Department at Saigon Star Tourism Joint Stock Company, said that to date, the company has organized many MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups of 200-250 people each to hold conferences combined with sightseeing and experiencing famous historical sites and scenic spots in Dak Lak. Tourists are very satisfied with the quality of service and enjoy the natural scenery at the places they visit.

The seminar "Dak Lak Real Estate Market in the New Era: Challenges and Opportunities" took place in Dak Lak province in April 2024.

In order to develop MICE tourism, the provincial tourism industry is actively researching the market, building and organizing focused tourism promotion programs linked to cultural events, festivals, conferences, and seminars in the province.

However, for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) to truly become a new direction for development, Dak Lak needs to strengthen investment in tourism infrastructure and supporting services such as entertainment, shopping, and nightlife for tourists; and actively host national and international conferences, exhibitions, trade fairs, and events.

Furthermore, MICE tourism requires a higher quality of personnel than other types of tourism; therefore, improving the quality of local tourism human resources is a core element that needs to be prioritized.

Do Lan

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202406/khai-thac-tiem-nang-du-lich-mice-7af0b68/