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.
REGION WATCH
ASIA
Collaboration in South East Asia
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG MICE
Date: 15 June 2020
Business events associations in South-east Asia: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, have come together to spur the recovery of the region’s meetings and events sector through ongoing talks with a focus on sharing protocols for the safe reopening of events, exchanging advocacy tactics, and building resilience in South-east Asia.
Short term business trips between Thailand and five key markets under discussion
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings
Date: 30 June 2020
Hong Kong and Thailand hope to have a bilateral agreement in July to create a travel bubble between the two destinations. Other short-term business travellers allowed into Thailand can potentially include those mainland China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
Thailand’s “Ease Up” grant
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 16 June 2020
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled “EASE UP”, a new collaborative financial grant that gives event organizers access to USD $500,000 financial support and an equivalent value in complimentary products and services from participating partners. The grant is part of a new campaign called I’M PEOPLE FOCUSED.
Thailand’s Covid-19 resource center and framework
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG MICE
Date: 15 June 2020
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched a real-time news service dedicated to business events during the Covid-19 pandemic and created a framework entitled Exhibition New Norm Standard Operation Procedures. The website includes government insight and measures on the status of the Covid-19 infection in Thailand and worldwide, as well as online resources for organisers and visitors.
Singapore’s Operational Handbook for the Industry
Source: Edited excerpt from Mix Meetings and M & C Asia
Date: 17 June 2020
Singapore Association for Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) has joined forces with Singapore Tourism Board and Enterprise Singapore to work on an Industry Resilience Roadmap (IRR) that will serve as an “operational handbook” as business events begin in stages. The IRR focuses on three strategic objectives:
- Safe and sustainable operating environment
- Strengthen enterprise capabilities to innovate and scale-up
- Build a strong and vibrant industry to drive future change
AKEI offers USD $200k support for exhibitions
Source: Edited excerpt from AKEI
Date: 23 June 2020
The Association of Korea Exhibition Industry (AKEI) will provide show organizers with the cost of COVID19 prevention activities to cover consumables such as masks, hand sanitizers and plastic gloves, renting equipment such as thermal imaging cameras, and disinfection costs. The total budget is about USD $200,000 and more than 50 shows are expected to receive this quarantine support. To be eligible, the show must be at least 2,000sqm and have been held since last May or is scheduled to be held in South Korea. An organizer can get support up to 2 exhibitions and up to 5 million KRW (USD $4,200) per show.
AUSTRALIA
Australia’s AUD $1.5 million restart package
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 19 June 2020
Business Events Australia has launched the Business Events Boost Program that includes a new AUD $1.5 million (USD $1.03 million) program to help the domestic business events sector get back on its feet in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. The Australian Federal Government has also put aside AUD $75 million (USD $51.8 million) in grants to provide capital to help event businesses. Event organisers will be able to apply for grants of between AUD $75,000 (USD $51,900) to AUD $2 million (USD $1.4 million) to put on events as part of a broader AUD $250 million (USD $173 million) rescue package for the arts sector.
Melbourne Convention Bureau seeking AUD $60 million in recovery funding
Source: Edited excerpt from The Age, Melbourne
Date: 4 July 2020
A tourism taskforce for Victoria has proposed a AUD $1.3 B (USD $910 million) visitor industry recovery plan to the State government. The proposed package would include AUD $15 million (USD $10 million) in additional annual funding for the convention bureau over four years as well as funding for product innovation (“game changing infrastructure development”), airline service incentives and tourism promotion.
EUROPE
Estonia’s free transport for international conference delegates
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 16 June 2020
Estonia’s capital, the city of Tallinn has introduced a new scheme where delegates to international conferences in the city can now ride the capital’s buses, trolleys and trams for free. Event organisers who apply through the city’s Transport Department will receive QR code tickets which can be sent to delegates before their arrival. The tickets are valid for the entire period of the delegate’s official stay.
Slovenia’s virtual adventure
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 22 June 2020
Slovenia Meetings team organized a 1-hour online experience on 2 July, featuring the main meetings destinations and venues in three geographical and three climate regions.
UK-wide “We’re Good to Go” certification
Source: Edited excerpt from Visit Britain
Date: 25 June 2020
The United Kingdom has launched a ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard and consumer mark to help businesses across the sector demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and check they have the required processes in place.
Berlin’s 10 million euros restart package
Source: Edited excerpt from KONGRES
Date: 28 June 2020
The Senate of Berlin has approved a new congress fund to help the city and the Berlin Convention Office of Visit Berlin to attract new events to the city. The focus will particularly be on events in the areas of digitalization, mobility and the health care industry. The congress fund initially comprises of 10 million euros (USD $11.2 million) as well as other support measures.
CANADA
Canada CAD $30 million support package for DMOs
Source: Edited excerpt from Canadian Meetings & Events Expo
Date: 1 June 2020
The Federal government of Canada announced that it is investing CAD $30 million (USD $22.1 million) into the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) to provide financial relief to destination marketing organizations across southern Ontario that have experienced revenue shortfalls.
MIDDLE EAST
Dubai Tourism’s cooperation with Dubai Customs
Source: Edited excerpt from M & C Asia
Date: 16 June 2020
Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) and Dubai Customs have signed a MoU to work as a team in making annual plans to specify the objectives and activities in attracting more business events to the emirate. The two will organize joint business events and Dubai Customs will become a member organisation of Al Safeer Congress Ambassador Programme.
Abu Dhabi’s Safety Certification
Source: Edited excerpt from CIM
Date: 22 June 2020
Abu Dhabi has launched a new Go Safe Certification that aims to enforce global standards of safety and cleanliness at hotels, attractions, and venues across the emirate, leading to the reopening of the properties after they receive clearance and certification from Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi.
GLOBAL RECOVERY PROTOCOLS
IELA onsite covid-19 protocol
Source: Edited excerpt from TTG MICE
Date: 29 June 2020
The International Exhibition Logistics Association (IELA) has released a step-by-step practical guide and safety recommendations for the exhibition logistics industry during the current pandemic. Entitled IELA On-Site Covid-19 Protocol, the guide recommends the measures and behaviour to adopt in an on-site work situation specific to the exhibition logistics environment, as economies restart around the world.