tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763204826305423233.post4099863181485754798..comments2008-03-29T13:57:28.730+08:00Roger Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12396938835765754757noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1763204826305423233.post-39957890701208815152008-01-02T17:47:00.000+08:002008-01-02T17:47:00.000+08:00Rog,<BR/><BR/>You’ve succinctly summarized the virtues of development conferencing /pro-poor MICE in your write-up. The e-Bario Knowledge Fair has been able to demonstrate that it is not only possible but also desirable to hold these events at ‘ground zero’. The basic yet pristine and stimulating surroundings did facilitate the creation and exchange of some great ideas: simple living and high thinking truly in action! In addition to the networking opportunities that conferences are supposed to provide, the Bario ambience allowed for bonding amongst the participants and even more so with the host community- something of an impossibility in the usual five star/enclave driven conferencing that we see so much of. Another plus point of such conferencing is the overall eco-friendliness, as such events tend to be low on consumerism/consumption- something for our corporate friends to mull over, given their propensity to pay lip service to corporate social responsibility and environmental protection! As Bario has demonstrated, such destinations are suitable for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and yes, even exhibitions (e.g. the forthcoming Bario Food Fest in March ’08). In recent years, many regions in Asia have seen a lot of infrastructure build-up for the MICE sector-these facilities usually tend to be oversized monstrosities designed to overwhelm the senses and are anything but eco-friendly. In most cases, they are not even aesthetically designed to conform with the local attributes. The Venetian Macao is a case in point- an imitation of an imitation! Commodified heritage on sale! Based of facts and figures relating to the e-Bario KF, I guess the time is ripe to hardsell the idea to the wider world (particularly the corporate types) that the ‘Barian’ model is more sustainable economically, ecologically and socially, and more importantly, far more productive than the ‘Venetian’. Any takers? Arm-chair MICE academics and practitioners please note!<BR/><BR/>SanjaySanjayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16058897664272642816noreply@blogger.com