San Carlos City, Negros Occidental: Prospects and Perspectives as Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions Destination

Abstract

Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism is a specialized area of the tourist industry growing in importance due to the growth of business tourism worldwide. In San Carlos City, the MICE industry is not yet fully developed; assessing the city's potential as a MICE destination is still essential to ascertain if the city has adhered to all the necessary qualifications and has sufficient facilities and services. As a result, using the Five A's of Tourism, the study assessed the potential of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental as a MICE destination and investigated stakeholders' perceived demands, difficulties, and opportunities. Using the quota sampling method, data were gathered from the respondents comprising tourism key players and tourists through a researcher-made checklist questionnaire. Descriptive analysis through frequency count and distribution percentage was used to analyze the data. Based on the findings, the city shows potential as a MICE-destination as determined using the Five A's of tourism. Generally, the study's findings may provide a basis for a proposed three-year MICE Tourism Development Plan of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Educational Tourism Destination Readiness and Opportunities of a State University

“…In fostering local development through educational tourism, the role of universities includes students' involvement in place-based activities, increased tourism business, and generating economic and social benefits to the community. Locally, there is a perceived high demand for universities in educational and scientific activities (Ramirez, 2021). These imply that HEIs as regional educational hubs should develop the potential of educational tourism destinations (Tomasi et al 2020).…”