Abstract
Destination management companies （DMCs） are locally based tourism enterprises with expertise in meetings, incentives, congresses/conventions, and exhibitions/events （MICE）. However, the literature has given less attention to DMCs. As related organizations will take on the role of destination management in the future, elucidating the actual situation of DMCs is important. These companies are expected to play an important role in enhancing the competitiveness and sustainable development of destinations by providing tourists with experience value through various products beyond MICE. Thus, this study aims to fill the research gap in academic and practical knowledge and clarifies the nature of DMCs and their role in and contribution to destination development. Based on a semi-structured interview with the CEO of Japan's first DMC in Okinawa, this study reveals the origins of DMCs in Japan, their specialization in business travel, and their current contribution to the development of MICE in the region. Furthermore, this study proposes a hypothetical model of tourism destination evolution based on the causal relationship between various DMC-based initiatives and the development of MICE.
