Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the number of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) events held in various venues in Macao totalled 397 in the first quarter of 2010, up by 4% year-on-year, attributable to an increase in the number of meetings & conferences held (+22). The average duration of MICE events increased from 2.0 days in the first quarter of 2009 to 2.3 days; however, marked decrease in the number of exhibitions caused the total number of participants and attendees to fall substantially by 39% year-on-year to 92,737.

A total of 10 exhibitions were held in the first quarter of 2010, down by 6 year-on-year, with the average duration dropping by 0.3 day to 3.6 days and the number of attendees decreasing notably by 52% to 56,045. Meanwhile, number of meetings & conferences rose by 22 year-on-year to 387; the average duration stood at 2.3 days, up by 0.3 day, and the number of participants increased by 2% to 36,692.

As regards subject of MICE events, the majority focused on Commerce, Trade & Management (153), Travel & Tourism (47) and Banking & Finance (40), up by 49%, 57% and 48% respectively year-on-year. Analyzed by type, most of the events were Corporate Meetings (184), Association Meetings (94) and Government Meetings (45).

There were 257 MICE events held in hotels, up by 29 year-on-year, with 249 meetings & conferences and 8 exhibitions. The average duration rose from 2.5 days in the first quarter of 2009 to 2.9 days, drawing a total of 75,816 participants and attendees, of which 50,845 (67% of total) were attendees to the 8 exhibitions.

Meanwhile, 140 MICE events were held in convention & exhibition centres and other conference venues, down by 13 year-on-year, consisting of 138 meetings & conferences and 2 exhibitions. The average duration decreased from 1.4 days in the first quarter of 2009 to 1.2 days, bringing in a total of 16,921 participants and attendees.