TOURISM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE POTENCY OF MICE (MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONFERENCING, EXHIBITIONS) TOURISM IN GERMANY AND U.K.

Tourism research and development is dedicated to facilitate interdiciplinary research projects focusing on a wide range of travel and tourism opportunities. Research has focused on all aspects of the tourism industry (Center for Tourism Research and Development, University of Florida). In particular, Tourism Research and Development aims to : Reseach tourism-related problems, such as the impacts of tourism, tourism planning for sustainable communities and effectiveness of tourism promotional materials; Develop new opportunities for research activities in the tourism industry; Communicative new findings on tourism research to tourism industry partners, elected officials, tourism-related businesses, and community-based organizations; Help formulate public- and private-sector policies that will lead to improvement in tourism planning and development around the world; Train domestic and international leaders and scholars about the tourism industry; Increase capacity-building through funds for graduate and postdoctoral training in tourism; Facilitate collaboration between industry partners via coordination of a quarterly newsletter, practitioner-oriented white papers, annual conferences and lecture series

In determining strategic plan of tourism of a state, the research and development institute has big role. This institute will do analysis of tourism development inside state then suited with tourism potencies which possible come from outside. Simply, it bases MICE tourism application as main tourism potency in particularly Germany and Great Britain. Obviously, MICE tourism is more popular in advanced states where the public service has big influence. The technology owned by advanced state is possible for MICE tourism to continue perfectly. The other task of the tourism research and development institute concerning with tight competition in world of MICE tourism is to find another various potencies by means of doing interdisciplinary study, because most of MICE tourism enjoyers are society which has high mobility such as executive and academician group.

According to the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives, 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 an 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 educational purposes. MICE tourism usually includes a well-planned agenda centered around a particular theme, such as a hobby, a profession, or an educational topic.


FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

Germany represents a federal state in the result of reunification of two different states on 3 October 1990 between West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (Democratic Republic of Germany) which had once separated since the end of World War II. Germany country ages classified as a young country since it’s unification did not make this state then wobbling in stepping forward to innovation in various sectors, especially in tourism sector, though German was more famous in its heavy industry if it was compared with its tourism industry, it was caused Germany experts spent more time in war in past, they represented important scientists in time of world war II.
From geographical side, Germany owns the region for the width of more or less 357.041 kilometer square located in the Central Europe and it owns sea access in its north border i.e. North Sea and Baltic Sea. It is to make it a strategic enough region towards the flow of Europe Trade especially, as well as remembering main export of Germany relying on high technology commodity in various sectors and also chemistry and pharmacy industry create a complete enough integrity for Germany government to maximize income from transit and tour business.
The above condition does not mean that it leaves Germany a safe position on its area of MICE tourism from the competitors in the surrounding region. In a survey performed by Regent Exhibitions Ltd. Indicated that there were some cities and states in Europe starting to threaten the Germany’s leading position on Mice tourism which until today still become the best MICE tourist state in Europe. The following are the information’s taken from the survey:
1. Central European Cities (e.g. Budapest or Prague). Reason: They offer better value
2. Baltic countries. Reason: novel experiences, and cheaper
3. Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Reason: “sexier” cities
4. Southern Europe countries. Reason: for weather
5. France and UK. Reason: their aggressive destination marketing
6. France. Reason: it’s food, wine and regional cooking traditions
7. Austria and Switzerland. Reason: their superior hospitality values

Almost all the cities or countries above are doing the best while they also took advantages from its living culture and lifelong heritage of its nature or the culture itself. On the other hand, Germany relies on its mobility and high technology to support its domination on MICE tourism leads. Both sectors, the “traditional” and “modern” innovations are also offering its own comfort for the list of the business travelers in Europe, and the world generally.

UNITED KINGDOM
Geographical region in U.K. owns width equals to 244,100 kilometer square, consisted of England for the width of 130,400 kilometer square; Scotland for the width of 78.800 kilometer square; Wales equal to 20,800 kilometer square; North Ireland equals to 14.100 kilometer square. Governmental wisdom of United Kingdom addressed to protect safety and welfare of the United Kingdom citizen, promote and enhance United Kingdom power in International World, as well as supporting the creation of a peaceful and orderly International arrangement
England represents one of the most interesting investments places in Europe region which is also very attractive to some industrial-advanced states, such as: United State and Canada, Europe Union and another Asian Countries. U.K. got 40% of investment total of advanced country flowing to Europe Union. Similarly with Germany, it is the fact that U.K. is business purpose area making MICE tourism very potential to come with great benefit. The prediction didn’t appear without strong reason, U.K. really has remarkable attractive power for businessmen. It is strongly related with the attractive power in U.K. based on very advanced technology and science, has international scale research and development institute, wide market access to Europe Union, the lowest company taxes compared with another advanced countries, available high qualified and educated employees, flexible work hour, as well as high telecommunication facilities. All of them remain a good capital for the future innovations of its MICE tourism development. Around the world promotion and an exhibition of international scale events is a front-line strategy of UK to bring the harmony of business and tourism at once. Maybe once again UK will conquer the world by its domination of its leading technology, just like the Germany’s efforts.

To Conclude
The International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) at the end of year 2008 published the top ten world ranking of the most popular state of MICE tourism destination. In that publication, Germany by 402 meetings positioned the second rank beneath United States by 507 meetings, both states were not moved from its last position of 2 big since the year 2004. While Britain was in the fifth by 322 meetings. Another source, Research and Markets (.com) recorded the list of the cities in Germany and Britain which were so attractive for devotee of MICE tourism, the cities are as follows: Hanover, Munich, Frankfurt, NurenbergMesse, Berlin (Germany); Birmingham, London (Britain). The achievement can be considered as the proof of the success of development and the seriousness of Germany and Britain government in planning MICE tourism as one of tour potencies in their country. They intend to lead over each other, which bring them to their best innovations year after year and still moving on until today.
The ICCA ranking is based on a survey of 7,475 qualifying events that took place in 2008. The events were organized by international associations, take place on a regular basis and rotate between a minimum of three countries. The association sees its rankings as a tool that should help to identify new destinations for meetings.
For the information, the following is the list of 10 big in the ICCA:
1. USA (507 meetings)
2. Germany (402 meetings)
3. Spain (347 meetings)
4. France (334 meetings)
5. United Kingdom (322 meetings)
6. Italy (296 meetings)
7. Brazil ( 254 meetings)
8. Japan (247 meetings)
9. Canada ( 231 meetings)
10. Netherlands (227 meetings)
Framework adopted by government in managing national research system of tourism in each country above strongly determined what society segment is like which to be persuasive tourism target of particularly a state, in this case, Germany and United Kingdom has similarity, both are advance industrial country representing one of world trade destination are, therefore, the MICE tourism is very dominant. By the end of 2008, Germany and UK still remain undisputed along with another top ten MICE leading countries in Europe. The unstop innovations from its researcher is the essential power of supporting the pace of the tourism growth in both countries. Germany tries to contribute its sophisticated technology to its tourism while UK tries to keep up using its long life heritage culture.

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