ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Τρίτη 22 Αυγούστου 2017

Quito’s MICE offerings contribute tourist arrivals increase in 2017



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Quito’s MICE


Quito, Ecuador attracts more travelers from around the globe this year. According to the most recent official data released, international tourist arrivals to the destination increased by 2.3% in the first semester of the year when compared to the same period in 2016.
Industry officials confirm that this continued growth can be attributed to the city's diverse cultural and gastronomic offering in the summer, as well as to Quito’s new Metropolitan Convention Center set to open in 2018.
According to Ecuador’s Ministry of Internal Affairs Department of Migration (Dirección de Migración del Ministerio del Interio), Quito welcomed 314,183 international visitors between January and June of 2017, which represents a 2.3% increase or 7,069 more travelers as compared to the same period the previous year.
According to these statistics, Quito continues to be the preferred destination in Ecuador by international travelers, a position the city held last year according to total numbers. In 2016 alone, Ecuador welcomed 1´509 108 tourists of which 627 617 (or 41.5%) visited Quito.
Veronica Sevilla, General Manager of the Quito Tourism Board, highlights several factors that explain Quito’s exemplary positioning on a global scale, “our efforts to promote Quito around the world are providing positive results. We have new campaigns that help showcase the experiences in Quito, including its flavors, aromas and textures that have allowed it to captivate travelers.”
If Quito’s tourism growth continues to accelerate throughout the remainder of the year, officials estimate that the city will receive a total of 630 087 visitors in 2017. In order to reach this expectation, the local tourism sector will continue to promote the city as a unique destination with a wide offering including cultural, historical, natural and gastronomic experiences that please even the most demanding travelers. Moreover, Quito will continue consolidating its offering as a MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Events) destination.
An effective strategy to increase the number of international travelers is promoting new places to discover in Quito and its surroundings as well as the city’s newest activities. Some of the most popular activities this year include:
- Traditional Trades at El Quinde Visitors Center: Local artisans will host live demonstrations and workshops that showcase historic crafts and trades of Ecuador including: hat production (August 5th and September 9th), wood craftmanship and inlay design (August 12th and September 16th), wooden toys (August 19th and September 23rd), products made of honey (September 2nd and 30th) and tin/iron products (August 26th). These activities also take place at La Ronda neighborhood, where local artists strive to maintain the original techniques from the famous Escuela Quiteña, or Quito’s School of artistic tradition. These activities will allow visitors to immerse in Quito’s cultural heritage and patrimony.
- Nature and adventure in Quito’s Cloud Forest: For those who enjoy nature and birdwatching, Quito and its surrounding areas are a paradise of biodiversity, making it the perfect habitat for 525 bird species. Orchids are the main attraction of the beautiful Reserva Orquideológica Pahuma where visitors can also rappel and trek.
Another reason for the increase in tourist arrivals is Quito’s position as an international meetings and conventions destination. The new Metropolitan Convention Center of Quito is an ambitious and strategic development and key component of this positioning. It is currently under construction and slated to open in August 2018.
International data indicates that, over the last ten years, MICE events have tripled in Latin America. Therefore, the new Metropolitan Convention Center of Quito, with facilities that meet international standards and has a capacity for 13 702 people, allows the city to position itself as one of the most important MICE destinations both on a regional level and globally.
As one of the most important projects in Quito, the new Metropolitan Convention Center is projected to have a great impact on local tourism figures. Additionally, it will contribute to one of the Quito Visitor´s Bureau goals, which is to double the numbers of international congresses and conventions by 2020 and increase the amount of Latin-American events by 5%.
With these initiatives, Quito aims to continue attracting more tourists and reaffirm its position as South America’s leading destination.