As the country continues to gradually remove the COVID-19 restrictions, Singapore will allow large-scale exhibitions and conferences of up to 250 participants, while the current maximum number of participants is up to 50 only. Organizers will be able to apply to pilot such Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) events from October 1, 2020.

Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing has announced the move at a virtual press conference on Monday (Sept 8). He said that the move is intended to pave the way for organizing larger events in the future.

“We are working with overseas partners, including overseas event organizers such as Messe Berlin to see how we can learn from the experience of other countries, scaling this up from the hundreds to the thousands in a safe and sustainable manner,” he added.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on the same day that the decision of increasing maximum number of participants from 50 to 250 is in line with the gradual recovery of economic activities in Singapore and came up after a successful pilot event with 50 delegates held in last month.

The Singapore’s tourism industry is also cooperating with government agencies to provide travel insurance products for inbound tourists to cover any costs of Covid-19. The tourism board informed that it may be launched in the early fourth quarter of this year.

The gradual resumption of commercial activities will help Singapore to maintain its position as a leading MICE hub and retain capabilities while protecting the job and livelihoods of the industry. The Mice and tourism industry are among those sectors which have been badly affected by the pandemic. The decision of allowing larger events to hold is part of the government’s measures to   rebuild and reshape the capabilities in the industry.

From October 1, event organizers will be able to apply for approval to host the event. The Singapore Tourism Board and the Ministry of Trade and Industry will review the proposal. Organizers must demonstrate the ability to implement social distancing measures along with limiting the density of event participants and implementing infection control measures before and after the events.