Saudi launch |
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MICE industry will serve as catalyst for more businesses to penetrate this booming market . |
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will allow international and regional companies to tap into this lucrative sector by providing their services ,” says Gazi .
Saudi Infrastructure Expo The co-location of Saudi Infrastructure Expo will surely help drive attendance and exhibitors in September .
“ Saudi Infrastructure Expo last year was a huge success , attracting 10,000 + visitors in the launch year . We feel there is great synergy between the two events from a visitor ’ s perspective ,” says Gazi . “ Infrastructure and water go in hand to hand and hence the co-located strategy will benefit the entire value chain .
“ We have been running The Big 5 Construct Saudi construction event in the Kingdom for a decade and , while the event profile covers the full cycle of construction , it does touch on some elements of water , so our experience is vast , and the water sector is now new to us .”
With Saudi Arabia placing a big stake on tourism , both business and leisure , how does Gazi see the MICE industry developing in the coming years in the country ? What are the challenges and the opportunities ?
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“ The Kingdom has recently made significant strides in modernising its economy and society ,” says Gazi . “ One of the key areas where this transformation is being seen is in MICE industry . In recent years , the government has been investing heavily in promoting the MICE industry in the country . The government ’ s Vision 2030 plan aims to diversify the economy away from oil , and one of the ways it plans to achieve this is by attracting more international visitors .
“ Saudi Arabia ’ s MICE industry has significant potential due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe , Asia , and Africa , and its welldeveloped infrastructure , including world-class conference centres and exhibition halls in major cities like Riyadh , Jeddah , and Dammam .”
The Saudi government has also made significant efforts to simplify the visa application process and another area of significant government investment is in technology , Gazi notes , including 5G networks and advanced data analytics tools . “ This provides a seamless and efficient experience for MICE travellers , making it easier for them to conduct business in the country ,” he says and believes the
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l dmg events ’ flagship events in the region include the Big 5 Global , The Hotel Show , INDEX , ADIPEC and Gastech
l For more information visit www . dmgevents . com
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Pent up demand With the wider gulf region recovering well from the effects of the coronavirus epidemic , faster than many other regions in the world , does Gazi see the bounce back momentum being maintained ?
“ Pent-up demand from our customers to meet clients face-toface has been the key to the MICE industry bouncing back post Covid . Our clients have really missed this opportunity during the pandemic ,” he says .
“ The return of air travel has also played a significant role in getting the MICE industry to pre-Covid levels and the demand currently in the Kingdom and the wider GCC region suggests that our customers are eager to attend as many events as possible to generate more business opportunities ,” Gazi adds .
So , what advice would he give to other event organisers looking to start up business in the country and the wider region ? What do they need to pay special attention to ?
“ I would say : do your homework thoroughly and study the market dynamics . Keep an eye on competitive activities in and around the region and hire the right people even if it takes time .”
In terms of recruitment and finding young talent , Gazi says there are increased numbers of young talents entering the event industry keen to build their career in this sector . “ We are also seeing an increased amount of interest from candidates who are willing to come not necessarily from an event-experienced background , and are willing to enter the MICE industry as they feel this industry for the next 10 + years is going to continue to grow .”
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