MICE

MICE means meeting, incentive, conference (or convention), and exhibition (회의, 포상휴가, 컨벤션, 전시회: 통칭하여 "마이스").

MICE is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together for a particular purpose. Recently, there has been an industry trend towards using the term 'meetings industry' to avoid confusion from the acronym. Other industry educators are recommending the use of "events industry" to be an umbrella term for the vast scope of the meeting and events profession.

Most components of MICE are well understood, perhaps with the exception of incentives. Incentive tourism is usually undertaken as a type of employee reward by a company or institution for targets met or exceeded, or a job well done. Unlike the other types of MICE tourism, incentive tourism is usually conducted purely for entertainment, rather than professional or education purposes.

MICE tourism usually includes a well-planned agenda centered around a theme or topic, such as profession trade organization, a special interest group or an education topic. Such tourism is often a specialized area with its own exhibition (e.g., IMEX, EIBTM, GIBTM, AIBTM, CIBTM. and AIME) and practices.

Statutory ground
In Korea, there exists the Act to Foster the Convention Industry (국제회의산업 육성에 관한 법률), whose purpose is to promote the convention industry.

Convention Bureau
Officially the Korea Tourism Corporation (한국관광공사/韓國觀光公社) supports large sized international meetings or conventions under the slogan "Korea Inspiring Meetings".

A convention is held so that a number of people may meet and discuss on specific issues to make a resolution. In many cases, such conventions deal with international agenda with foreign participants meeting together. The international conventions may be connected with local tour programs. In view of such spill-over effect, the venue cities are eager to hold large-scale international conventions as many as possible.

Convention centers in Korea
As exemplified by G-20 Summit in 2010, 8th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting at Jeju Island in 2008, Tourism 20 Ministers' Meeting in 2010, World Knowledge Forum in 2011, etc., Korea has held a number of world-reknowned conventions at world class convention facilities all across the country.
 * Seoul COEX
 * Incheon Songdo Convensia
 * Ilsan KINTEX
 * Daegu EXCO
 * Changwon CECO
 * Busan BEXCO
 * Daejeon DCC
 * Gwangju Kimdaejung Convention Center
 * Jeju Jeju International Convention Center
 * Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center to open at the end of 2014

Statistics
In 2012 alone, more than 11 million foreign tourists visited Korea. Around 10 percent of foreign visitors participated in MICE which took place in Korea. 469 international conventions, the 6th largest or 4.4 percent market share of the world, were held in Korea. It is said that MICE participants spend 1.8 times more than ordinary tourists. See classified statistics on foreign visitors' arrivals and Korean departures, and tourism balance of payments.

Take an example of Baozen Group of China which sent 25 thousand employees for incentive tour to Korea rather than Japan. They came to Jeju Island and other areas 8 times by cruise ship. It was a remarkable success for K-MICE industry.