TCEB TO JOIN HANDS WITH PARTNERS TO HOLD ‘YI PENG FESTIVAL’ Highlighting Chiang Mai as a Model City for International Festivals

11 November 2024: TCEB, together with partners representing public and private sectors, promotes the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival to restore local economy following the flooding disaster. Through collaborations with all sectors to recover the city, the festival will highlight Chiang Mai as a model city for international festivals. In addition, Grab Thailand has joined to offer 15%* discount for a ride to and from the event site to encourage visitor traffic.

This year, the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival will be running from 13-17 November 2024 with the “Lanna, worship and illumination” concept delivered through 4 major activities, which are 1. Yi-Peng Communication, communicating with the target audience through public relations channels, products and services for Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival; 2. Yi-Peng Illumination, featuring the ‘Tam Phang Patid, Song Fa, Hugsa Muang’ activity that reflects the Lanna culture and way of life alongside public illumination to promote the image and ambience of Yi Peng as the Night-Light Festival; 3. Yi-Peng Product & Service, featuring the selection and presentation of products and services specifically crafted for the Yi Peng Festival in accordance with the “Lanna, worship and illumination” concept, and 4. Yi-peng Navigator, featuring the production of maps and information of event activities to inform the visitors, side by side with a mission-based excursion on the pre-determined route at the Yi Peng event.

Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, disclosed that the ‘Yi Peng’ is the festival that TCEB has joined pact with Chiang Mai Province in formulating the strategy to empower the event from a provincial to a global level based on the 12 Months 12 Festival Themes concept. This concept is the marketing and public relations framework for festivals in Chiang Mai and is coherent with one of the government’s major goals in enforcing soft power in which festival is one of essential national highlights. Initially, the government has pinned targets at 3 festivals, including the Yi Peng, the Thailand Winter Festivals and the Song Kran Festival. Additionally, Chiang Mai has been selected as one of five “World Festival and Event Cities” by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA).

“This year is the second year we are moving forward to escalate the “Yi Peng Festival”, which is a traditional ritual of Lanna people, to rise as an international light festival. This year, the essence of Yi Peng Festival is not only the promotion of international festivals, which is one of the core business groups that are an important target for the driving of Thailand’s MICE industry in 2024 through the use of social, cultural and economic "values" or Soft Power as a new selling point for Thai MICE, but also the mobilization of both public and private sectors to accelerate the restoration of the city and stimulate the economy, as well as to mentally support the locals following the flood disaster. All of which shall reflect the readiness of the city in serving tourists in the approaching high season.”

This year’s festival has received strong collaboration from both government and private sectors, comprising Chiang Mai Province, TCEB, Visit Lanna Association for MICE and Tourism Industry, Chulalongkorn University with support from the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC), the Tourism Authority of Thailand, associates representing civil society like the Ruk Chiangmai urban community network and partners from educational institutions, agencies and local entrepreneurs. The collaboration encompasses a broad range of aspects, including the design direction for festival elements, the conceptual development of the festival, fostering inspiration for urban revitalization among the public, and managing communication and public relations efforts.

TCEB has also joined hands with Grab Thailand in delivering the value and experience of joining the Yi Peng Festival through a special discount for rides reserved via Grab application. Visitors can enjoy 15% off a Grab ride or up to 60 baht when using the “YIPENG2024” code. The promo code is aimed at facilitating the visitors and reducing personal car use. Grab will also assist in terms of communication through several channels in regard to add more travel option to the event site, thus ensuring a pleasant experience in tourism.

The Yi Peng Lantern Festival 2024 is expected to attract up to 185,000 local and foreign visitors, which include 150,000 Thai tourists and 35,000 foreign tourists, generating an approximate revenue of 2,030 million baht and successfully creating the awareness and recognition among international travellers.