Melbourne to host world’s leading eye health professionals in 2021

Senior woman having her eyesight checked by young optician at ophthalmologist's office.

Melbourne has won an international bid to host 2,000 international eye health professionals at the World Congress of Optometry 2021 (WCO 2021).

The event will bring the world’s best professionals in optometry to Australia and provide local optometrists with valuable exposure to global knowledge, experience and approaches to practice.

To be held in September 2021, the three-day congress will also see leading manufacturers and equipment suppliers from every corner of the globe converge at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to share in the latest technological and patient care advances.

The bid, secured by the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with Optometry Victoria South Australia and the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association, and with support from the Victorian government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program, is anticipated to generate almost $12 million in economic impact for the state.

Melbourne recently hosted the Southern Regional Congress, merging for the first time with the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association to create the new biennial event which aims to be the largest education, eye care and eyewear event ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

Commenting on the win, MCB acting chief executive Julia Swanson said: “Melbourne is recognised as a premium destination in hosting global events in the medical field, and the city provides the platform for further research and development while contributing to the economy.”

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said: “Business events are extremely valuable to our economy, with the average business events visitor spending at least twice as much as a leisure visitor.

“These two events alone are expected to inject around $10 million into the economy.

“As a country, we have a distinguished track record of hosting large-scale international business events, and I am pleased that the Morrison government’s Bid Fund Program is continuing to assist in the conversion of new business for Australia, which provides a boost to our economy.”

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