The 16th ITOP Forum Keynote Speech Woo Keun - Min Governor Jeju Special Self - Governing Province

The 16th ITOP Forum Keynote Speech MICE Industry and Tourism Vision - Disaster Preparedness Program for Jeju Tourism Development -

Honorable Members of the ITOP Forum. My name is Woo, Keun Min, and I am the Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in Korea.

Before visiting Okinawa, I’m sure that most of us here, myself included, checked the weather forecast.

People naturally check the weather at their destination before they travel.

Honorable ITOP members and observers, and the distinguished guests, on behalf of the citizens of Jeju, I would like to express my wholehearted welcome to you. Thank you for coming to Jeju.

I hope that you enjoy the sensation of the autumn on Jeju, and that the 15 th ITOP Forum can become a precious memory for all of you.

The ITOP Forum has reached its fifteenth anniversary. Our vision and dream that have pursued the core values, a sustainable island and development of the tourism industry, has been very fruitful during the last fifteen years.

The ITOP Forum members ’ promise for a common prosperity has conceived the seed to create productive values. As a result, we now can expect a different phase of our common future.

Now, we are here today to write another history as a new ' Island Economy Community.’

I strongly believe that this year ' s ITOP Forum will be a very meaningful one that opens the door to a new future for us.

To realize a new value for the future, the 15 th ITOP Forum aims to find an opportunity to review ' the MICE industry as a new opportunity and a new challenge.'

I hope that the forum can be the venue to review the past, the present, and the future of the world ' s tourism markets.

We will share these precious hours, to have sincere discussions about the vision and strategies that we can share for the common prosperity of the MICE industry, as it is often called the flower of the service industries.

MICE Industry, the Key Engine for the Tourism Industry

The tourism industry is the source of national and regional wealth, and at the same time, has grown as the core industry leading the world ' s economy.

In the Tourism 20 ( or T 20) tourism ministers ' meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, a research result was disclosed that the tourism industry takes 6 to 7 percent of the world ' s total GDP.

The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) forecasts that the tourism industry will grow to 9.5 percent of the world total GDP by the year 2019.

The contribution of the tourism industry is even more significant in the Jeju economy, taking 29.3 percent of the total GRDP of Jeju in 2009.

Honorable ITOP Forum members and industry experts : The ' silent war ' is getting severer as the market contenders strive to secure a competitive edge in the world ' s tourism markets.

To cope with such a trend, developing a vision and strategy to create high value in the tourism industry has become a survival game in order not to be left behind in the war of the tourism industry.

Evolution takes place continually in the eco - system called the tourism industry. A stagnant and changeless eco - system cannot be expected to last for a long time.

For such reasons, the 15 th ITOP Forum pays attention to the MICE industry.

MICE, stands for meetings, incentives, conventions, events, are the key growth engine for the tourism industry. They can bring in a large number of foreign visitors in a short period of time.

They are the sources of high value - addition to the economy with a great spillover effect on various aspects, such as, provision of opportunities for strategic cutting - edge information, technology exchanges, and job creation.

The Growth and Opportunities of the MICE Industry in Asia

Since the market began to recognize the industrial value of MICE in the middle of the 1990 s, the MICE industry has made a remarkable growth in such a short period.

In the recent decade, the international meetings in the world increased by 6.2 percent. The decreases in most of the non - Asian continents are evident.

On the contrary, for the same ten years, the number of international meetings held in Asia increased by 85.4 percent.

The MICE industry is giving the opportunity for growth to the countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Such a rapid growth rate in the MICE related markets in Asia encourages competition in the industry, which leads to qualitative development of the industry.

Asian countries to include, Korea, China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan, invest competitively in building infrastructure facilities and inducing foreign investors in an effort to take the preemptive advantage in the world ' s MICE industry.

Since the Asian economy began to exert its strong influence on the world ' s economy, MICE related companies from Europe and the American continent are moving into the Asian market in accelerated speed.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to introduce the strategies for Jeju MICE promotion.

Jeju pursues converged MICE, the ' Jeju style Convergence MICE.

The convergence will partner with Jeju ' s Nature and its natural environment, as recognized by UNESCO ' s triple - crown laureate in the nature and science fields,

World Natural Heritage, MAB Biosphere Reserve, and World ' s Geopark ; and as a final candidate for the New 7 Wonders of the World.

The convergence will continue and expand with tourism, recreation, MICE, cruise, green tourism, comprehensive entertainment, and many more. Our goal is to have a genuine, ' Jeju style Convergence MICE.'

Jeju has a vision to become the best MICE center city with high - quality resort - based facilities in Northeast Asia. I would like to ask for support from all of you, the family of the ITOP Forum.

A Network of Islands is the Key to Overcome the Limitations as an Island

Hornorable ITOP Forum members and industry experts : The opportunities and challenges that the MICE industry brings to Jeju are also the opportunities and challenges for the ITOP Forum member islands.

The geological characteristics as an island can be advantages at times but at other times, they are a disadvantage compared to the land destinations.

Accessibility is poor. The local market is weak. Poor logistics, difficulties to hire MICE specialist manpower force, and the limitation in building an international network,

all of these problems can deteriorate the competitiveness of the MICE industry in island destinations.

Recently, the World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO ) predicted that the Asia Pacific region will be the leading growth force in the world ' s tourism markets.

Yet, the active engagement in competition by the land - based cities causes a concern that such movement will weaken the competitiveness of the island destinations in the ITOP member countries.

I believe that MICE are the areas that need to be discussed closely and continuously among the ITOP members through a cooperative channel.

I hope that the 15 th ITOP Forum can serve to provide a meaningful opportunity to seek for a common prosperity of the MICE industry.

Once again, I would like to welcome your visit to Jeju. Enjoy the wind of Jeju, fall in love with Mt. Hallasan and the volcanic oreum mountains and hills on Jeju.

Try to feel the touch of the sea of Jeju, the shining waves of a jade color like a mother ' s bosom. I am very grateful to have you on this beautiful Jeju.

Thank you for your attention. 28 September 2011 Woo Keun - Min