Smart choices: strategic industries offer Singapore path to prosperity
City state makes huge strides to become a technology leader by securing business events in sectors such as information and medical technologies
Singapore consistently ranks in the top five as a destination of choice in Asia for high-powered meetings.
The Union of International Associations (UIA) ranked Singapore fourth after the Lion City staged 736 meetings last year – one meeting shy of third-placed Belgium. The United States was the No 1 destination followed by South Korea.
The city state welcomed about 3 million travellers who went there for business travel and meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions (BTMICE), and generated tourism revenue worth
S$4.5 billion (HK$26 billion), according to official figures. And for the 14th year, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has placed Singapore as one of the top cities for international meetings in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East.
The city state is making huge strides to become a technology leader by securing business events in sectors such as information and medical technologies, according to the Singapore Tourism Board, and many tech-focused meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions are scheduled throughout this year.
“As a city with a multitude of strategic industries, Singapore is delighted to welcome MICE events that further add to our economic vibrancy,” says Melissa Ow, deputy chief executive at the Singapore Tourism Board. “Events that offer stimulating content and inspire further dialogue will also build up our thought leadership, which is important for our knowledge-driven industries.”
Internet and cyber security are big themes on Singapore MICE calendar. In November, the city state will host the “ISACA Cybersecurity Nexus (CSX) Asia-Pacific” meeting, and in 2017 it will host the “Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) 100” event.
