In the 2008 policy blueprint, the government explicitly suggested a research study on the construction of a government-run meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) centre.

To enhance the MICE market's regulations and healthy growth, industry businessmen said it was essential for the government to build its own MICE venue in order to assist the local exhibition companies to stay competitive overseas.

As for the government's intention to convert either the Macau Dome or the Macau Forum into the first public exhibition centre, the industry was generally inclined toward the latter as they said it could contribute more practical benefits to the community economy.

The Macau Dome is situated on the Cotai Strip where another large-scale MICE venue is already in operation.

In contrast, the industry said the Macau Forum was in the central hub where location, transport, hotels and other complementary facilities were relatively well developed so that few extra resources had to be incorporated.

Referring to the example in Guangzhou city of China, the venue was built ahead of the peripheral facilities which lastly caused a lot of complaints from exhibitors, buyers and visitors as there was no restaurant and accommodation around.

However, the MICE industry said cross-departments co-ordination had first to be assured  before the conversion could be made possible.

The Macau Forum is supervised by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) and the enclosed Tourism Activity Centre is currently overseen by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture.

In the concept of the MICE pyramid, exhibition venues and companies are positioned in the top two layers.

In the past, the government tended to be concerned about the possibility of competing for profit with the community if it owned a MICE venue.

After the opening of the Cotai Strip convention and exhibition location, a concern was arose among the industry operators that the monopoly of MICE facilities by gaming corporations would create negative influences on the local MICE development.

The operators questioned the intention of the gaming companies, whether it was aimed at assisting the local MICE development, or serving their own gaming industry by making use of the MICE concept.

In addition, current data and information such as the exhibition content and nature was not revealed to the public which could result in the same sort of conventions and exhibitions being held several times throughout a year.

According to the market regulations, exhibitions in the same type cannot be repeatedly organised within half a year.

Therefore, the local MICE industry once again said it was vital for the SAR government to introduce its individual convention and exhibition venue.