Yes, something is missing. The action towards making a competitive MICE industry towards our ASEAN country is missing. It seems it is out of the picture for our new DOT leadership. I hope not.

Meetings, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) are business boosters and it gives a stronger punch than backpack tourism.

In MICE the economic activities will be more long lasting.

Look at China; a country that sets-up huge convention centres in each of its cities and it is reaping the rewards in return. Look at Singapore and Hongkong, they have a very efficient MICE structure that attract and complement their tourism destinations. Look at Thailand, and even Vietnam they have a better public and private MICE machinery that have overtook us.

To our Department of Tourism, creating a MICE department or office in DOT will not be enough. A concrete and a strategic action plan is needed. The industry and all the organizations involve in MICE are ready to help.

Just don’t dare to forget about MICE, if you do any painkiller will not alleviate the pain and ailments of our tourism and MICE industry – a neglect that is an anti-thesis of targeting high value tourists.

Already in a span of two days I have read news about our government’s plan in cornering a chunk of tourism market.


According to AFP, “ the government aims to double tourism revenues in six years while avoiding the mass-market route taken by some of its Southeast Asian neighbours, the country’s tourism secretary told”.

In the article, the government focus on strengthening infrastructure with emphasis on cultural , medical tourism and the beaches.

While I agree in all points enumerated in the news the came out in Business World dated July 12 (just one day after an article came out in Philippine Star on Boracay’s overdensity), I scratched my head that there is no mention of MICE as one of the key drivers in veering away from mass-market and attracting high value tourist visitors.

There are already an excess of study that MICE as an important part of tourism attracts businessmen and potential investors which spend 4 times compared to backpackers and almost always entertain the possibility of setting-up shops in the country that leads to job generation.

The growth of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hongkong will never be possible without MICE playing an important role. In fact, mega events like F1, ASEAN conventions and meetings are what attract high value visitors.

It is not only that MICE provides higher income they brought along with them new knowledge and technology that our country can enjoy as we push harder in realizing our dreams to be a developed nation.

Yes, promoting our beaches and taking care of it is important. Yes, creating museums and displaying artefacts and giving solid support to cultural activities will make Philippines more attractive to tourist. If we add infrastructure that provides access to our country then will surely multiply the tourism receipts that we are getting.

However, if we do not give a special attention to MICE and neglect it for the coming six years the number of meetings and visitors generated last 2008 and 2009 which are already spiralling down will only get smaller.

The English proficiency which we are so proud of will not be fully maximized because it is in MICE that this competitive advantage we can immediately harness and put into good use.

I understand that there are so many concerns in our tourism industry but in my humble opinion we must never forget MICE – it is a tourism activity that churns lasting impact.

China has set-up many convention halls that dwarf our biggest convention hall here. If this is not an indication that we must use MICE as a weapon I don’t know what else is this sector needs to do to be appreciated by our government.

PACEOS is the national organization of the Philippines for Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE).

We, at Exlink Management and Marketing Services, see a bright Meetings, Incentive Travel, Convention, Exhibition and Events (MICE) in the country.


This is the reason why we wanted to bring readers information that will kept them abreast in the MICE industry.

Already international markets are looking at holding their meetings in our country, a reason that we have to be prepared.

When there are meetings there are conventions and exhibitions, two key components in making our economy dynamic and robust.

Having figured this out, we decided to have our own blog domain so that readers and followers of events, exhibition and convention can reach as faster.

Happy trip to all of us and may the Philippines MICE light shine brighter in the coming years.

In the Tourism Industry, the excitement cannot be contained as to who will be the new DOT Secretary. Alas, P-Noy announced that the new steward of the tourism industry is none other than Sec. Alberto Lim.

From the tourism congress newsletter, it was reported that he has a 38 years of experience engaged in business, government and civil society.

He won several local and international awards under his company Ten Knots Development for environmental conservation. He was also an executive director of the Makati Business Club, a very active business organization in the country.

Many are expecting that Sec. Alberto Lim will bring his private orientation in the government institution. This mindset will definitely benefit the tourism industry.

This morning while I am having my coffee and watching T.V., the news about the SLEX 250% increased toll fee rate got my attention.


Apparently, the increased in the toll way rates generated a negative reaction from the main users of the highway – the bus operators plying it.

This made me look at the details of SLEX development and study the benefits of the improved highway. SLEX is the longest expressway in the country at a distance measuring a total of 97 kilometers. SLEX snakes thru the following cities: Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas and the near future Quezon.

All the improvements to rehabilitate SLEX cost P12 Billion pesos. The benefits of a shorten travel time, safe travel, and saved gasoline because of the improved roads are a very good news from the motorists.

I should know how it feels to travel in a very comfortable condition, I use SLEX whenever I go to the south – I believe everybody does.

I remember during my younger days travelling in SLEX, it was very dangerous – few lights, bumpy roads, congested lanes (you guess it a lot of accidents take place during night and even during daylight).

I believe that the toll operators should increase and get earnings from the venture of improving SLEX – they deserve it. Although 250% increase is very high. I propose a gradual increase so as not to shock, most especially the bus operators that use SLEX.

SLEX and other road developments are infrastructure that we need badly in order to improve our tourism and trade industry. A highway that guarantees speed and safety is what we need in order to spur economic activities.

The increase of toll rates only shows that there is a price to pay if we wanted to have progress. There can never be free lunch. There is no free lunch. If we want development, we must embrace the risk and responsibilities that goes with it.

SLEX being the longest highway in our country needs to be first class. I am willing to pay additional just to have a taste of it and free my mind from the worries that a decrepit highway offers.