Conventional Wisdom

Cities around the world covet the opportunity to host international meetings. The conventions and exhibitions bring immediate benefits to the host locale as well as long-term advantages. An entire industry has grown up around the marketing of venues and what they have to offer in the form of tourist attractions, trade, and business matching.

The city of Fukuoka, in Japan’s southwest, has established a professional team called “Meeting Place Fukuoka.” The members’ mission is to convince international planners to bring events to their city.

This program shows how the team goes about its task, from the very start—in identifying prospects—to the conclusion—in making the meetings successful.

Fukuoka is one of the largest cities in Japan, has a population of 1.5 million people, and has been growing rapidly as a commercial city in recent years to become a new MICE city and tourist destination-as an alternative to Tokyo and Kyoto.

It is easily accessible from other Asian countries and we also have direct flights from Europe.All airport, seaport, and train terminals, as well as convention facilities, hotels, and shopping districts are located within a 2.5-kilometer radius of the city center in Fukuoka. There are also many tourist spots near Fukuoka for convention participants to visit including temples, shrines, hot springs, advanced technology plants, and seasonal fruit picking.