Regions beyond top performer Bangkok come into their own with more ICCA-recognised conferences being hosted. In Cvent’s Southeast Asia destination placings, Thailand just behind Singapore
THAILAND is making waves in the global meetings industry rankings, with Bangkok securing seventh spot place in the world for international conventions – and a record 13 Thai cities now ranked among the world’s destinations for ICCA-recognised conferences.
The International Congress and Convention Association’s latest Country and City Rankings for 2024, which was unveiled at IMEX Frankfurt 2025, show Thailand achieving a “new high” in its international convention profile.
Bangkok rises to seventh in ICCA’s world city rankings
Thailand hosted 158 international conventions in 2024, up from 143 the previous year, securing the No.1 spot among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and fifth across Asia Pacific.
While Bangkok remains the star performer – hosting 115 events and jumping from 15th to seventh globally – what makes the ranking more remarkable is the growing ambition of Thailand’s regional cities. From Pattaya and Phuket to Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, local destinations are stepping up to compete on the world stage.
Pattaya hosted 10 ICCA-recognised conferences in 2024
“We are delighted with the overall performance of Thailand, especially Bangkok which made a noticeable rise in the ranking,” said Puripan Bunnag, senior vice president and acting president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
“In this respect, we feel grateful for international professional associations for their trust and confidence in Bangkok. It will further inspire the city and Thai MICE industry to deliver their best to maintain or upgrade their operating standards to meet the evolving needs of the market,” Puripan said.
Apart from Bangkok, 13 Thai cities made it into the ICCA report:
Chiang Mai (12 conventions) – Pattaya (10) – Phuket (8)
Phuket’s choice of luxury resorts is attracting the attention of meeting planners
The ICCA report, which analysed data from over 11,000 global conferences, also highlighted Asia’s growing prominence in the meetings industry, second only to Europe. Thailand’s performance reflects a broader regional trend – and a strategic push by TCEB to decentralise business events beyond Bangkok.
Puripan said the establishment of TCEB regional offices across Thailand has empowered cities to attract more conferences and incentives. “The ICCA rankings would also encourage more regions in Thailand,” he said.
Meanwhile, event-tech giant Cvent named Bangkok the second most popular meeting destination in Asia Pacific for 2025, one place behind Singapore. The ranking was based on over US$18 billion in global sourcing activity including a record $16.5 billion through the Cvent Supplier Network.
With international confidence growing and regional cities gaining ground, Thailand’s MICE momentum is no longer just a Bangkok story – it’s a nationwide movement, Puripan said.
