Taiwan might have been a little late on the scene - with Mice initiatives not getting under way until 2005 - but what a difference five years make.
The island hosted 91 international conferences last year, landing it in 32nd place in the International Congress and Conference Association world rankings in its report last year, up three places from the previous year. Taipei hosted 64 conferences to rank it seventh among Asian cities, bypassing Shanghai and Tokyo.
The successful hosting of the World Games in Kaohsiung and the 21st Summer Deaflympics Taipei lifted Taiwan's profile among international event organisers.
'Mice development in Taiwan is a collective effort from government authorities, professional conference organisers, customers and travel agents,' says Swire International Travel general manager Norman Meng.
Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade has been actively developing the sector internationally under the 'Meet Taiwan' banner.
Improved cross-strait relations and direct air links have seen a surge in visitors from the mainland. For the first seven months of this year, visitor numbers shot up 79.7 per cent to 957,273, compared with the same period last year. Incentive travel is growing on the mainland and one recent success saw the Amway Group take 12,000 people to Taiwan on cruises.
