Hotel room shortage looms as MICE arrivals increase
A sharp increase in MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event) tourist arrivals in HCM City has fuelled concern among tourism firms over possible shortages of hotel rooms and conference halls.
Further growth of the MICE market could result in room shortages (File photo)
HCM City (VNA) - A sharp increase inMICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event) tourist arrivals in HCM Cityhas fuelled concern among tourism firms over possible shortages of hotel roomsand conference halls.
Major hotels have reported high occupancy rates in the first quarter of 2017,with many four- and five-star hotels managing over 80 percent in February.
There isa match between demand and supply at the moment, but if the MICE market growsfurther, there would be a high possibility of room shortage for MICE tourists,a source at the Saigontourist Travel Service Company warned.
With thenumber of MICE visitors increasing steadily since last year, some tourismcompanies moved some groups to other cities and provinces.
HCM City hasgreat potential for MICE tourism but the city needs to invest more ininfrastructure, hotels and convention centres, Nguyen Ngoc Chau, Chairman of BenThanh Tourist, said.
As oflast February the city had 1,926 star-rated hotels with 48,182 guestrooms, according to the city Department of Tourism.
Thedepartment has urged the city administration to offer incentives forbuilding and expanding three- to five-star hotels.
Tourism firms have called for building moreexhibition and convention facilities. Currently there are only two suchcentres: GEM Centre in District 1 and Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centrein District 7.-VNA
Vietravel, a big travel company in Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Gyeonggi province are cooperating to attract MICE tourists from Vietnam to the Northeast Asian nation.
Ho Chi Minh City will become a new destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Southeast Asia thanks to its dynamic development.
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Further growth of the MICE market could result in room shortages (File photo) 
