The Korean government has proclaimed the coming year as the "2012 Korea Convention Year". Its aim is to capture a spot among the five major meetings destinations in the world.
The meetings and conference industry in Korea has expanded very strongly indeed since the beginning of the new century, propelling the country to eighth place in the Union of International Associations' 2011 rankings in terms of the number of MICE events. Acknowledging the huge importance of the meetings and conference industry, the Korean government is promoting it as one of the country's strategic growth sectors.
The Korean Ministry of Culture und Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, together with seven MICE alliances in regional Korean conference centres, have drawn up comprehensive programmes to offer MICE participants and organisers better local service. Additionally, the 2012 Korea Convention Year has been planned to overlap with the final stage of the Visit Korea Year 2010–2012 campaign so as to boost the number of guests toKorea.
During the 2012 Korea Convention Year, financial support from the Korean government and the incentives for qualified meetings, conferences and incentive travel in Korea will more than double. Conference centres and hotels are offering reductions of up to 30 percent on the published rates for meetings, with hotels granting up to 40 percent room discounts, free room upgrades and welcome greetings for the relevant guests.
Free site inspection trips can be arranged for qualified organisations. The two major Korean airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, are offering special price reductions for organisers and meetings and conference participants.
