Boracay has always been a world-famous destination for leisure travel. But an alliance composed of different sectors in the tourism industry is now trying to position the paradise island as a prime “MICE” destination.
To those not familiar with the term, MICE is a shorthand for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. And while business events do happen in Boracay, they are mostly the result of individual and fragmented efforts. Most of them tend to be small meetings and conferences, at best.
With a collective push from an organized group, the alliance hopes to put Boracay top of mind when tour organizers talk about MICE destinations.
With many existing and upcoming facilities, the island is ready for business events and corporate groups, especially after “sleeping” and resting for almost two years, no thanks to the lockdown restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the six-month rehabilitation closure just before that.
With its beautiful beaches and famous white sand, Boracay is already popular for leisure tourism, so it wouldn’t be too hard to sell the place as a tropical paradise for business events. All it needs is the right set of incentive packages to attract business events planners and organizers.
Another advantage of Boracay as a MICE destination is that participants in business events could bring their families with them. And while they attend to business, their companions can explore the island without them being too far from each other. This means that a push for business events also means good news for leisure tourism. (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
