(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) Gulf Cooperaion Council, GCC, countries are in an excellent position to become a global meetings hub because of their growing trade activity, central geographical location, and increasing status as prospecting spots for business travelers, according to a study by management consultancy, Strategy&.
The study identifies the meetings sector as one of the most lucrative niches within the tourism industry since business people who travel to a country to attend a trade show or conference tend to spend far more than other travelers.
A country that positions itself as a good place for large-scale meetings, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) can attract a high volume of foreign business visitors.
It highlights the steady progress that GCC has made as a destination for business travel. Total business-tourist arrivals reached around 10 million in 2012, representing a five percent annual growth from 2009.
The proportion of business tourists as a whole is higher, probably closer to one-third of all tourist arrivals. This validates the fact that business travelers in the GCC represent an unusually high percentage of total tourist arrivals compared to the rest of the world.
According to the study, for GCC countries to tap into opportunities in the meetings market, it is important for government and policy makers to have a clear understanding of the MICE tourism ecosystem.
Antoine Nasr, Principal at Strategy&, said, "Among the GCC countries, the UAE is seen to have the most robust MICE business. The country has transformed itself into the region's most important travel hub and this is evident with Dubai International Airport recently surpassing Heathrow as the world's busiest airport. The UAE also provides an increasing range and quality of leisure offerings which has enhanced the country's popularity as a place for meetings." GCC countries have five major competitive advantages as MICE destinations: central geographic location, considerable trade activity and expanding economic and corporate bases, stable political systems, a host of emerging ancillary services (such as restored ancient sites and rapidly improving museums) and new and technologically advanced meeting facilities that can host sizable gatherings.
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