All business events scheduled to take place in Thailand this year will take place as planned, Thai Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) says following the recent bombings.
On August 18, the bureau issued assurances that all 154 business events due to take place in Thailand between now and the end of the year will take place as planned.
Between August 10 and 12, 13 bombs hit five Thai provinces, according to the Bangkok Post. Tourist areas including Hua Hin and Phuket were targeted. At least four people were killed and 35 injured.
Despite this, Phuket hosted the first Thailand Incentive & Meeting Exchange (TIME) 2016 from August 18-21.
Later this month, 5,500 MICE visitors will travel to Phuket for the Pro-Health 2016 Incentive Trip, taking place August 28-September 11.
Towards the end of the year, Thailand is due to host In Cosmetic Asia 2016, The Grand Metalex 2016 and Motor Expo 2016 along with other decorated events.
Events confirmed to take place in Thailand next fiscal year (October 2016-September 2017) include: The 21st CEPSI: 21st Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry, Asia Pacific Society of Respiratory; The 29th Congress of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists and ProPak 2017.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched several initiatives to ensure tourist safety and to promote Thailand as a secure destination.
One such is a "We Care" initiative: campaigning for local communities to put on their best show for visitors. Those who work in the tourism industry are also being encouraged to wear White-Yellow Ribbons as a symbol of peace and unity.
"We want to show that Thailand and the Thai people genuinely care for the well-being of all tourists," says Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. "We want tourists to know that by visiting Thailand, they’ll make memorable travel memories and enjoy experiences that will entice them to return time after time.”
TAT opened a Situation Monitoring Centre on August 12, which is monitoring local and international news, collecting statistics on tourist arrivals, bookings and cancellations as well as data from airline and tourism-related companies to keep track of the situation.
Looking ahead, TAT is also seeking cabinet approval for a special long-holiday weekend in September to encourage travel and spending across the country.
The Authority is pushing for World Tourism Day, which is being hosted in Bangkok this year on September 27, and the day before to be declared public holidays.
In addition, new events are being added to the calendar, including the “Jazz Run Cycling Hua Hin Festival”, scheduled for the first week of September, and a golf tournament featuring Thailand’s lady golf ambassadors – Pornanong Phatlum and Ariya Jutanugarn.
