The chapter aims to study a new form of tourism, business tourism and the MICE industry, which in Romania and Eastern Europe is in the process of development, having a major economic contribution to the growth of the economy of the communities where it is taking place. The business and industry tourism sector MICE (M-meeting, I-travel incentive/reward, C-convention or congress, E-exhibition, fair, event) is an industry that governs the economic market confirms the markets of Europe and the United States of America as a success story through the regeneration of urban cities and the superior quality of services. The aim of the research is to analyze the social and economic implications generated by the business tourism sector and the MICE industry in order to increase the level of development of the communities where they are taking place.
TopIntroduction
The contemporary world is subject to a rapid process of change, and tourism is strongly present in the life of society, as an economic and social phenomenon influenced by it. Studies in the field present the analysis of the tourism sector as a human experience, as a factor in the national economic progress, and not - ultimately, as a business – a source of revenue and development of the destination. Tourism highlights natural resources, enriches the cultural horizon and represents a way of economic, social and spiritual development of society.
The benefits of this chapter are in close correlation with those of the book, bringing to the attention of students, teachers and researchers from outside Eastern Europe the concerns of tourism research in the universities and research centers of the former communist countries for three decades after the return to the economy market. Research aimed at a wide public interested in European tourism and especially in the former socialist countries' tourism, with emphasis on the Romanian one.
The motivation for choosing the theme is justified by the insufficient knowledge of the potential of business tourism and the MICE industry in Romania, the present chapter following the following research directions:
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The extent to which the business tourism sector has taken place today.
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The social and economic implications generated by the business tourism sector and the MICE industry, with the aim of increasing the level of development of the communities where they are taking place.
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The potential for capitalizing and the dynamic of the business tourism sector.
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The economic impact on investment in tourism infrastructure.
The research of the proposed theme was accomplished through the following research methods: documentation for identifying the development of business tourism and MICE industry was made by analyzing the current available information, the synthesis of the existing research on the subject, the direct and indirect observation on some popular MICE destinations in Europe, description, interpretation of statistical data provided by ICCA, OECD, UNWTO, regarding the capacity of hosting MICE events.
The objectives of the chapter are as follows:
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Defining concepts and practical approaches to the business tourism industry and MICE industry.
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Analyzing the potential of MICE business / industry tourism at international, regional and national level.
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Clarifying the importance of the MICE business / industry tourism sector in the development of the tourist destination.
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Identification of contemporary economic trends in the context of globalization on the development of MICE business / industry tourism.
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Presenting the size of the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, fairs) at international, regional and national level.
The author's concerns in the proposed research for this chapter are:
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Explaining the concepts of business tourism, MICE industry, Convention Bureau associations.
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Identifying links between the criteria for choosing a MICE destination and the influence of the number of participants in events.
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Evaluation of the MICE event hosting infrastructure in Romania.
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Identifying the available resources that can turn Romania into an attractive MICE destination at international level.
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Determination of Romania's most important competitors in MICE industry worldwide, European and regional.
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Highlighting the economic importance of business tourism for the national economy.