TOURISM industry leaders believe the industry is slowly getting back on its feet, particularly the meetings, incentives, conferences or conventions, and events (MICE) segment.
“We may have a hiatus, nag rest tayo because of the pandemic for the past two and a half years. This was one sector that was really paralyzed. But what was nice was when the economy started reopening, everyone was back on their feet,” said Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor, one of the industry pillars whose family owns several tourism industry-related businesses.
Montemayor noted that the industry has started to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic when gatherings were put on hold due to the strict health-related restrictions.
She said the industry is very much alive with events, either social, corporate and others, have started to take place.
Montemayor noted that even art exhibits have been taking place since the relaxing of restrictions. “You will notice that even the art industry is very much alive… Halos every month may mga (there are) art shows,” said Montemayor, whose daughter, Maria Margarita M. Nograles, heads the Tourism Promotions Board.
Promoting the city as MICE hub is timely considering the things that have been happening, she added.
Next month, the city will hold its founding anniversary and the MICE Convention, a gathering which is expected to place in a single place about 500 industry executives.
The MICE segment in the city, said Jennifer Romero, City Tourism Operations Office head, has grown tremendously that allowed it to host the MICE Convention and with the big convention centers and more accommodation rooms, more activities can take place.
Montemayor said the growth has resulted in more opportunities both in businesses and jobs.
“The city has shown that we are capable of hosting mice events because we have matured already as a Mice destination,” she added.
