MICE TOURISM DURING COVID-19 AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE NEW NORMAL
Abstract
The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is considered the fastest growing tourism sector. MICE generates foreign exchange, increases trade and investments, provides employment, boosts local economies, and promotes destinations. The major key to its success is the strong collaboration with the travel, hospitality, and leisure sectors that provide products and services for the industry. Therefore, any disruption along its value chain may lead to significant losses for its stakeholders: organizers, participants, suppliers, sponsors, and host destinations.  Although the industry is resilient, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may be the definitive crisis that will reset any previous gains from a formerly robust tourism industry. This paper begins with a discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on MICE. Then it seeks to present the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) as the alternative platform used during the pandemic. Finally, it will attempt to identify areas for further research to proactively prepare for the MICE post COVID-19.
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tourism marketing. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 28(4), 533-
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[Webinar]. Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.
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[PowerPoint slides]. School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events,
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panel. [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
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panel [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
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panel [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
https://www.facebook.com/exlinkevents/video/248446206406017/
https://skift.com/2019/10/24/new-report-the-state-of-business-travel-2020/
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, M. (2020a): Pandemics, tourism and
global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-16. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/ 09669582.2020.1758708
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, M. (2020b): Pandemics, tourism and
global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism, 1-16. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/
09669582.2020.1758708
World Travel and Tourism Council. (2020, May 19). The future of
travel: A WTTC exclusive panel. [Infographic].
https://www.facebook.com/ exlinkevents/video/
248446206406017/
United Nations World Tourism Organization. (2020, May). Impact
assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak on international tourism.
https://www.unwto.org/ impact-assessment- of-the-covid-19-
outbreak-on-international-tourism
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2020). COVID-
19 Situation update worldwide. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/
geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases
World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/ coronavirus#tab=tab_1
Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, M. (2020c): Pandemics, tourism and
global change: a rapid assessment of COVID-19. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism, 1-16. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/
09669582.2020.1758708
Zhang, X., Song, H., & Huang, G. (2009). Tourism supply chain
management: A new research agenda. Tourism Management, 30,
345–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2008.12.010
World Travel and Tourism Council. (2020b, June 10). More than 197m
Travel & Tourism jobs will be lost due to prolonged travel
restrictions, according to new research from WTTC.
https://wttc.org/News-Article/More-than-197m-Travel-Tourism-
jobs-will-be-lost-due-to-prolonged-travel-restrictions
Center for Exhibition Industry Research. (2020, 5 June). CEIR
announces 2020 first quarter results. CEIR. https://www.ceir.org/
news/ceir-announces-2020-first-quarter-results/
UFI-The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. (2020, March
20). UFI releases updated global assessment of the escalating
economic impact that COVID-19 is having on trade shows and
exhibitions. [Media Release]. https://www.ufi.org/wp-content/
uploads/2020/03/UFI_releases_updated
global_assessment_of_economic_impact. docx-200320.pdf
Center for International Meetings Research and Training (2020, April
6). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international
meetings industry across the globe.
https://www.iccaworld.org/dbs/asiapacific/files/ CIMERT/
CIMERT%20Survey% 20Report.pdf
Congrex Team. (2020a, March 30). Disruption in the business
events industry: rising to the challenges of COVID-19.
https://congrex. com/blog/disruption-business-events- industry-
challenges-covid-19/
Matcha. (2020, April 15). COVID-19 - Free online streaming by
Japanese artists and facilities. https://matcha-jp.com/en/9681?
type=news
Panache. (2020, May 29). Kathak, puppetry and other traditional art
form classes to go digital. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
Cornet, J. (1975) African art and authenticity.
African Art, 9(1), 52-55. https://doi.org/ 10.2307/3334983
Greenwood, D. (1989). Culture by the pound: An anthropological
perspective on tourism as cultural commoditization. (S. B. Gmelch,
Ed.). Waveland Press, Inc.
Maccannell, D. (1973). Staged authenticity: Arrangement of social
space in tourist settings. American Journal of Sociology, 79(3),
589-603. https://doi.10.1086/225585
Cohen, E. (1972). Toward a sociology of international tourism.
Political Economics, 39(1), 164-182.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40970087
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
(2019). Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage. https://ich.unesco.org/ en/convention
.
Buhalis, D. (2003). eTourism: Information technology for strategic
tourism management. Financial Times/Prentice Hall.
Fuchs, M., Höpken, W., & Lexhagen, M. (2014). Big data analytics for
knowledge generation in tourism destinations – A case from
Sweden. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 3(4),
198-209. http://dx. doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jdmm.2014.08.002
Kotze, T., Anderson, O., & Summerfield, K. (2016). Technophobia:
Gender differences in the adoption of high-technology consumer
product. South African Journal of Business Management, 47(1).
https://doi:10.4102/ sajbam.v47il.49
Hind, D. (2020a, July 7). Events webinar series 2.0 [Webinar]. Taylor’s University. https://m.facebook.com/TaylorsUniceversityMy/
Hootsuite & We Are Social. (2020). Digital 2020 Global Digital
Overview. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-global-digital-overview
Congrex Team (2020b, March 30). Disruption in the business events
industry: rising to the challenges of COVID-19. https://congrex.
com/blog/disruption-business-events-industry-challenges-covid-19/
Hind, D. (2020b, June 10). Creating virtual events. [Webinar]. Joji
Ilagan International Schools.
https://www.jojiilaganinternationalschool. com
Neuhofer, B., Buhalis, D., & Ladkin, A. (2013, February 11-14).
Experiences, conceptual experiences co-creation and technology:
Approach to enhance tourism experiences. In D. Simmons (Chair),
2013 CAUTHE Conference [Paper Presentation], South Island, New
Zealand.
Kavoura, A., & Katsoni, V. (2013). From e-business to c-commerce:
Collaboration and network creation for an e-marketing tourism
strategy. Turismos, 8(3), 113-128.
Zeithaml, V., Parasuraman, A. P., & Berry, L. (1990). Delivering
quality service: Balancing customer perceptions and expectations.
The Free Press.
Tsiotsou, R, H., & Ratten, V. (2010). Future research directions in
tourism marketing. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 28(4), 533-
544.
Hind, D. (2020c, July 4). The events industry in the new normal.
[Webinar]. Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.
https://zoom.us /j/96868537039
Konar (2020, May 5). Best research topics for a post-pandemic future.
[PowerPoint slides]. School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events,
Taylor’s University. https://m.facebook.com/PARTH
Chapman, G. (2020, May 19). The future of travel: A WTTC exclusive
panel. [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
https://www.facebook.com/exlinkevents/video/248446206406017/
Guevara, G. (2020, May 19). The future of travel: A WTTC exclusive
panel [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
https://www.facebook.com/exlinkevents/video/248446206406017/
Smith, C. (2020, May 19). The future of travel: A WTTC exclusive
panel [Webinar]. Department of Tourism Philippines.
https://www.facebook.com/exlinkevents/video/248446206406017/
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2020-08-10
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