MACAU welcomed six fewer events during the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2011, reflecting a sustained downward trend in its quarterly MICE performance.

In 4Q2011, the destination registered 272 events, 108 fewer than the same quarter the year before.

Although its events count is down, Macau saw an increase in the total number of event attendees. Events in 1Q2012 attracted 161,781 attendees, representing a 26-per cent year-on-year increase.

Hong Kong-based C&E Conference and Exhibition Management general manager, Clemson Lo, who observed a drop in meetings and incentive enquiries for Macau over the past six months – which he attributed to the destination’s rising hotel room and venue rental rates – said the stronger attendance figures could have included day visitors from China.

Off-Site Connections Events Solutions managing director, Peter Hassall, blamed the decrease in MICE events on a “globally suppressed market”.

Hassall added: “The total number of participants (in 1Q2012) may have increased because of two major exhibitions held in the first quarter. More than 15,000 people attended each exhibition, which makes up almost 20 per cent of the total participants registered in Q1. As Macau (adds) more venues, hopefully we will continue to see (more of) such large-scale events hosted here.”

Meanwhile, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has also seen a slowdown in applications for its extended Incentive Travel Stimulation Programme, which offers support to event organisers throughout 2012.

According to an MGTO spokesperson, 55 incentive travel groups with a total of 19,439 participants were approved in 2011. In the first four months of 2012, only 16 groups with a total of 6,786 participants were approved.

The spokesperson attributed the decline to global economic instability in the last quarter, and added that “signs of an economic recovery” and new attractions in Macau would bring about a boost in application numbers for the rest of the year.

SRI Lankan conglomerate, Expolanka Holdings, has acquired a 50 per cent stake and full control of Mumbai-based Akquasun Holidays, which is said to be a destination management network that specialises in both inbound and outbound tourism.

Akquasun has offices in 11 destinations including the Maldives, Hong Kong, China, South Africa, Russia and the US, and these work closely with travel agents, tour operators and event specialists in facilitating arrivals.

Chaminda Dias, executive director at Luxe Asia, an inbound tourism company which is part of Expolanka, said the acquisition would take Akquasun “to the next level”.

He said: “We (Expolanka) plan to set up new sales teams in the established overseas offices to attract clients to (destinations) such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, etc.”

Dias explained that prior to the acquisition, Akquasun handled mostly Indian outbound traffic to destinations where it has operations. Now, with Expolanka’s backing, Akquasun will increasingly canvass for business in markets such as Russia and China.

“(Akquasun) was also involved in sending (sizable) MICE (groups) to Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Macau. We hope to replicate this Indian model with the new and enhanced operations in Russia, China and the Midde East, and encourage MICE travellers (from these markets) to visit (destinations such as) Sri Lanka and the Maldives,” he added.

Expolanka’s ultimate goal is to transform Akquasun into a US$100 million (annual turnover) company in the next few years, from US$30-40 million currently.

“We want to grow the company’s outbound market share to 10 per cent, up from its current three to four per cent share in countries that Indians are visiting,” Dias said, adding that the company accounts for some 7,000 Indian visitors per annum to Mauritius, making it the second largest operator in that market.