Bulletin: COVID-19

A spacious conference room features beige sofas, a large stage with a podium, and a big screen.
Conference hall with equipment for events. Large monitor, speakers, podium for conferences, events and parties

We’re all being flooded by news and communications about COVID-19.  Below we summarise information about how destinations are responding, which we hope will help you in planning your own mitigation and recovery strategies.


DIFFERENTIATING BUSINESS EVENTS FROM MASS GATHERINGS

Source: Edited excerpt from Exhibition World
Date: 7 May 2020

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) and the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) says it is important the government understands the business events industry can operate under a controlled set of ‘bio-safe’ principles and should not be subject to mass gathering restrictions.

Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 15 May 2020

Conventions & Incentives New Zealand echoes this sentiment. The New Zealand Government has confirmed ticketed large events, including domestic business events and conferences can now go ahead with a 100-person limit. The events must adhere to a one-metre distancing requirement and use contact tracing.

Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 11 May 2020

The same scenario is playing out in Malaysia where its Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) is appealing for a clear distinction between business events and mass gatherings so the sector can establish a restart date. The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is pushing for 500 people as the maximum limit for business events, raising the limit of 250 which the National Security Council was considering.

REGION WATCH

ASIA

Thailand prioritizes Hygiene and Safety
Source: Edited excerpt from Meetings & Conventions Asia
Date: 30 April 2020

Under the “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration” campaign, qualified tourism businesses who exceed minimum standards set by the Public Health Ministry will be able to display a safety certificate logo.

Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 18 May 2020

In the meantime, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), in partnership with business events stakeholders in Thailand, have launched MICE Venue Hygiene Guidelines comprising five key measures.

Thailand provides grants for business events venues
Source: Edited excerpt from The Nibbler
Date: 30 April 2020

TCEB has also implemented the ‘COVID-19 Free Meetings’ project, providing grants of 30,000 Thai baht (USD $1,465) to eligible MICE venues for upgrades to health and safety standards. The TCEB forecasts the project will be able to support up to 216 business event venues nationwide.

Penang’s three-year rejuvenation plan
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 18 May 2020

The Penang state government and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) are jointly developing a three-year business events rejuvenation plan that will start from next year. The initial focus will be on building and attracting more national meetings and business events, before targeting South-east Asia, Asia Pacific and finally, the global meetings and incentives industry.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

COVIDSafe Australia’s three-step recovery plan
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGMICE
Date: 11 May 2020

The COVIDSafe Australia plan outlines steps to gradually remove baseline restrictions and reopen the economy.  Phase three, described as the ‘new normal’, will come into effect in July and will allow gatherings of up to 100 people, including business events. However, international travel and mass gatherings over 100 people will remain restricted.

EUROPE

European Cities Marketing Launches Recovery Guide
Source: Edited excerpt from European Cities Marketing
Date: 29 April 2020

European Cities Marketing, in partnership with TOPOSOPHY, has published “The DMMO Covid-19 Continuity Checklist – An ECM Guide for Sustainable Recovery”.
The Continuity Checklist is presented in three stages: response, recovery and resilience.           

TOURISM RECOVERY EFFORTS          

Australia’s Live from Aus Initiative
Source: Edited excerpt from Meeting Newz
Date: 10 May 2020

Tourism Australia has invited event planners around the globe to enjoy 24 hours of inspiration, education and entertainment with a curated program of live virtual travel experiences on the weekend of May 16 and 17. This was aimed at keeping event planners inspired and engaged for when it is safe to send groups to Australia again.

Singapore’s recovery framework
Source: Edited excerpt from TTGAsia
Date: 11 May 2020

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has developed a new framework featuring new platforms for easier digitisation and potentially faster recovery. Under the three-step framework coined “Learn Test Build”, companies can learn to identify gaps and opportunities in their business models through the STB Tech College, as well as a new self-diagnostic tool, the Tourism Transformation Index (TXI).

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