According to the latest figures announced by the Macao SAR Government Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), in the first half year of 2017, some 699 MICE events were held, with participants and attendees numbering 627,000.

The number of meetings and conferences increased by 66 year-on-year to 652, with participants surging 61.9 per cent to 99,000. Meetings & conferences of four hours or more increased by 77 to 442, with participation soaring 98.3 per cent to 79,000.

The number of exhibitions decreased by four year-on-year to 18, bringing the number of attendees (514,000) down just 0.7 per cent. Some 17 exhibitions were organised by non-government organisations, with attendees down 1.4 per cent to 505,000. The number of incentive events increased by nine year-on-year to 29, while participants (13,000) dropped 48.1 per cent.

In accordance with information collected from the organisers of 18 exhibitions in the first half year of 2017, the receipts and expenditure of these exhibitions amounted to MOP83.01 million and MOP61.98 million, respectively, with receipts (MOP81.90 million) of the 17 exhibitions organised by non-government organisations higher than their expenditure (MOP38.66 million). The net receipts of these exhibitions after deducting expenditure and financial support from government and other organisations were MOP38.55 million, an upsurge of 158.3 per cent from MOP14.92 million in the first half year of 2016.