Congress Tourism in Denmark 2017

Author: Carl Henrik Marcussen.This report focuses specifically on congresses held by international associations that rotate between different countries, which is one of the purposes and tasks of MeetDenmark to attract to Denmark. The analysis in this report therefore aligns closely with the ICCA definition of congresses, which are understood as meeting events with at least 50 delegates, of which at least 40% are foreigners, rotating between different countries, and lasting at least two days. According to ICCA, Copenhagen is in the top 20 of cities worldwide that host the most international congresses. Based on this report's analysis of international congresses in Denmark, it can be concluded that public-private partnerships and public investment in attracting this type of meeting activity to Denmark are important for a number of reasons. In addition to the economic benefits for Danish society and individual companies from international congresses, there are a number of other effects that are less easily measured but are also of significant importance and are discussed in Danish and, in particular, international literature. The analysis, which is presented in detail in the other parts of this report, maps several of these mentioned effects and the significance of international congresses in Denmark. The analysis is largely based on the annual list of congresses compiled by the various major cities and regions that are members of MeetDenmark.