TCEB Synergizes with Royal Initiative Development Foundation and Leading Airlines to Launch “DOMESTIC MICE: A Royal Trail Inspiration” Campaign

Bangkok/August 29, 2013 -- In another effort to promote domestic MICE industry, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB today launched a new promotional campaign in conjunction with Royal Initiative Discovery (Pid Thong Lung Phra) Foundation (R.I.D.) and leading airlines, namely Thai Airways International and THAI Smile, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, and Nok Air. Titled “DOMESTIC MICE: A Royal Trail Inspiration”, the campaign offers public and private organizations endless opportunities to discover several novel ways of team building in the many Royally-initiated projects as a pre-or post-meeting activities. Being introduced were 14 Royal Initiative Projects which form model MICE destinations in 5 provinces – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Sakon Nakhon and Krabi. The campaign runs from September 2013 to March 2014, and interested organizations may partake of the exclusive privileges and attractive discount being offered by participating airlines.

At the launch and press conference taking place today at Devaraj Sabharomya Throne Hall on the compound of the Phya Thai Palace, R.I.D. Secretary General Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul graced the ceremony with his impressive opening speech, followed by a discussion on “DOMESTIC MICE: A Royal Trail Inspiration” by TCEB D’s President Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, and high level airline executives namely Mrs Petchpring Sarasin, Vice President-Corporate Public Relations, Thai Airways International; Mr Varong Israsena, Deputy Sales Director, Bangkok Airways; M.L. Bovornovadep Devakula, Director of Business Development, AirAsia; Mr Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Vice President-Marketing & Sales, Nok Air; and Mr Voranate Laprabang, Managing Director of THAI Smile.

In his opening speech, M.R. Disnadda Diskul disclosed that, “There are altogether over 4,000 Royal Initiative Projects nationwide where people from around the world come to visit and benefit from the body of knowledge – sustainable development, in particular. This is the knowledge for the 21st Century which we can learn from members of those communities – the real practitioners. I am very much delighted to see the synergy of TCEB and the partner airlines in launching this campaign to encourage greater number of domestic MICE events and greater interest among the Thai to visit and learn from the Royal Initiative Projects. Definitely, they could make use of this experience in nurturing organizational as well as personal growth.”

Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President of TCEB added that, “The Royal Initiative Projects are today among the most attractive destinations for both Thai and foreign tourists since they could learn and appreciate the great effort dedicated by Their Majesties the King and Queen as well as other members of the Royal Family. For MICE market, these knowledge-based projects serve well as great learning grounds for pre and post meeting activities. And this new campaign reaffirms TCEB’s commitment towards promoting domestic MICE to generate more income to further strengthen our economy.”

Mr Nopparat further revealed that there would be 6 thematic presentations for this new campaign and any organizations may choose to conduct team building in the following themes: Adventure, CSR, Experiential, Green, History & Culture, and Luxury, the last of which meaning the exclusive opportunity for certain experience.

“This is the final campaign for fiscal year 2013, and we expect to generate 100 million baht from the 5,000 participants in these domestic MICE events. This figure will contribute to our annual growth of 15 per cent, registering 4.3 million MICE visitors, and accounting for 13,706 million baht in total revenues,” Mr Nopparat disclosed.

In this initial stage, “DOMESTIC MICE: A Royal Trail Inspiration” proudly presents 14 ideal destinations on the trail of royal projects in five provinces – Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Sakon Nakhon, and Krabi – as convention venue coupled with learning centre. This project features various interesting side activities, for example, bird-watching of more than a thousand rare species at Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station, high altitude fisheries at Inthanon Royal Agricultural Station, ecological and beach cleaning activities at Royal Conservation and Restoration of Thung Thale Forest Project at Koh Lanta, visit to mulberry farm and savour the aroma of mulberry tea at Phufa Development Centre Project, get hands-on experience on rice terrace culture at Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation Pilot Project at Ban Nam Pak, strolling amidst the capturing sea of flowers and picking macadamia nuts at Doi Tung Development Project, or visit the tea oil extraction plant at Tea Oil and Plant Oils Development Centre.

Interested public and private organizations are welcome to inquire more information or make reservations by contacting all participating airlines or call TCEB Call Centre number 1105, or check its web site: www.ประชุมเมืองไทย.com or facebook page www.facebook.com/meetinthailand .

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For more information please contact:

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau

Ms Arisara Thanuplang

Tel: +66 2 694 6095

Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr. Pishnu Plaikaew

Tel: +66 2 694 6000

Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th