The State Secretary to the Minister for Tourism, Isabel Borrego, the President of SEGITUR, Antonio Lopez de Avila, and the representatives of the six associations comprising the Meeting and Event Industry Forum, held a meeting at ministry headquarters with the aim of addressing common issues and, specifically, the need to conduct a rigorous scientific study on the meeting and event industry’s economic impact in Spain. At the meeting, it was decided that the State Secretary to the Minister for Tourism should be project leader.
Among other relevant issues, the convenience of stepping up the international promotion of the MICE sector was also addressed, and it was agreed that the most efficient initiatives to be implemented in the near future would be discussed at a later date. The meeting has served to highlight the importance of an effective and proactive understanding between the public administrations, tourism organizations and members of the forum, which include, in addition to ICCA Iberian Chapter, the Federation OPC Spain, the Spanish Chapter of MPI (Meeting Professionals International), the Spanish Exhibition and Trade Fair Association (AFE), SITE Spain (Society of Incentive and Travel Executives) and the Association of Spanish Destination Management Companies (SpainDMCs).
A recent example of the forum’s collaboration with tourism organizations is the "Global Report on the Meetings Industry", which has seen the light of day thanks to the support of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), through its Affiliated Members Programme, responsible for its publication. Submitted during the recent Assembly of ICCA Iberian Chapter, held at the beginning of April in Gerona, the report was drafted in collaboration with some of the WTO’s affiliated members – totalling over 400, including companies, research and educational institutions, destinations and NGOs in 80 countries – and the forum’s six members.
Forum objectives:
The main objectives established by the forum on its creation are as follows:
- To create a group of experts who defend the interests of the Spanish meeting and event industry in the global industry’s strategic forums.
- To draw up a strategic plan for the development of the Spanish meeting and event industry.
- To establish periodic forums and meetings for exchanging knowledge and putting forward ideas, proposals and suggestions.
- To create valid channels of dialogue with the public administrations.
- To provide the said administrations with technical and specialized support for the industry’s sustainable and balanced development.
