South Korea has been ranked second as a destination for global meetings hosted last year, according to the latest International Meetings Statistics Report, released by the Union of International Associations.
The findings show the country second to the USA worldwide and first in Asia, with 891 meetings – a 40 per cent increase on 2014’s 636. It accounted for 7.5 per cent of all meetings globally in 2015.
Seoul also improved its longstanding top five UIA city ranking, moving from 5th to 3rd place, with 494 meetings held last year, a 98.4 per cent increase over the 249 meetings hosted in 2014. Singapore came top and Brussels was second out of 1,459 cities. Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, achieved a global city ranking of 11 with 150 meetings, while the renowned Unesco World Heritage resort island of Jeju accounted for 112 of the year’s meetings, achieving a global city ranking of 19.
“The UIA findings demonstrate Korea’s compelling attraction for business events and travel, which is underpinned by the nation’s cultural appeal and steadily growing MICE capabilities,” said Kee Hun Kim, Korea MICE Bureau executive director.
“We will, of course, continue to work actively to make Korea a highly competitive congress host and a country with a wealth of destinations all featuring their own unique attractions and venues.”
Nationwide infrastructure growth has played a key role in boosting Korea’s MICE competitiveness, including expanded facilities in Pyeongchang, Gangwon province, which will host the 2018 Winter Olympics, and expansion of Korea MICE Expo host Songdo Convensia in Incheon’s international business district.
Main picture: Coex convention & exhibition centre in Seoul
