GROWTH in outbound MICE to Asia remains flat in many European markets, which has already registered a slowdown over the past year due to the tightening of budgets amid a weak economic climate.
Said Tony Vanvinckenroye, CEO of White Reizen Belgium: “Europe is still in recession. People are travelling just once a year now, instead of two or three times per year.”
Besides unfavourable exchange rates, some consultants also singled out airfares as the primary obstacle to growing outbound MICE travel to Asia.
Gordon Owen, Messrs G Owen & Co, said: “Airfares are a major disincentive for MICE travel, especially when corporate budgets are tighter and companies must demonstrate a financial return on travel for meetings or seminars.
“Asia (offers) better value by far, but for a group of 70-100 delegates, the cost of travel to Asia is high which evokes hesitation from travel managers.”
Asia still commands interest from MICE groups though, driven by its growing air connectivity and infrastructure.
Signalling its competitiveness, South-east Asia has managed to steal cost-conscious European clients from Australia.
Marc Lambert, owner of Antipodes Voyages Belgium, which usually drives most of its traffic to Australia, has seen a 20 per cent rise in the number of MICE groups to South-east Asia this year. He said: “Because the (Australian) dollar is so high, clients are switching to New Zealand and South-east Asia instead.”
Singapore and Thailand top the region as MICE destinations, said European buyers at IT&CMA and CTW, who observed that Singapore attracts meetings, while Thailand is popular among incentive groups keen on multi-country travel.
Reporting by Timothy France
