The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has announced a strategic campaign to invigorate the country’s MICE industry following the military coup on May 22.
Focusing on upcoming developments in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, the Hip and Heritage Business Events initiative shines spotlights on state-of-the-art facilities and venues that celebrate Thailand’s heritage. Speaking at the campaign’s press conference on August 19, Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sek Wannamethee said: “The situation in Thailand is now peaceful and secure, and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau is working with other Asean governments and the EU to strengthen Thailand’s status in view of an agreed development plan.”
The second largest city in Thailand, Chiang Mai aims to join Bangkok as an Asean hub for business events by 2017, with expansions of Chiang Mai International Airport and a high-speed railway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai being among its development projects. In recent weeks, TCEB has launched a series of exercises to strengthen confidence in the country’s offerings, including private sector road shows with MICE partners in the UK, Canada and Germany. As an incentive to attract Chinese tourists, Thailand is waiving the visa fee for them from August 8 to November 8.
The country received over a million MICE visitors in 2013, but this year, the expectation is adjusted to 888,210, with resultant revenue estimated at US$2.90 billion.
