TCEB HASTENS THE ADVANCEMENT OF KHON KAEN MICE CITY BUSINESS HUB OF GMS TO SOAR AS MAKE KHON KAEN VISION TO WITH

Furthermore, TCEB has been operating under the domestic D-MICE market development strategy designed to promote MICE business in Khon Kaen. The 4 key aspects of development strategy include the ‘Meeting in Thailand’ campaign which expects to encourage D-MICE events in Khon Kaen and advance the potential of MICE City in the northeast that is capable of serving domestic meetings and exhibition events; the expansion of meetings and exhibitions in Special Economic Zones and the CLMV countries to enable Khon Kaen to soar as the hub of MICE in the northeast that connects seamlessly with neighbouring countries; the promotion of domestic meetings and incentives activities at Royal Initiate Projects and Royal Thai Military tourism destinations, especially the continual holding of conference at Royal Thai Military tourism destinations, such as the conference at Military Circle 23rd in Khon Kaen Province; and the promotion of domestic exhibitions continually through the invention of new domestic exhibitions, such as the holding of industrial fair in Khon Kaen Province in September 2015, the upgrading of domestic event to regional event, such as the 3rd I-SAN Book Fair in the coming August 2015 which is expected to draw more than 110,000 visitors, as well as the cloning of successful events to Khon Kaen, including the Food & Hotelex Expo, the I-SAN House & Condo fair, etc.

The number of MICE travellers visiting Khon Kaen Province in 2014 totalled at 280,440 which generated 730.28 million baht of revenue, while the number of MICE travellers in the Quarter 2 of fiscal year 2015 (October 2014-March 2015) reached 1,585,043 or was equal to 5,659 million baht of revenue. The increase of MICE travellers in the Quarter 2 comprised exhibition visitors for as much as 1,518,825, following by visitors of international conference of 54,966 andvisitors of organisation convention of 11,252.

Mr. Siwaroj Mungmaiphon, Vice Governor of Khon Kaen Province revealed that in the fiscal year 2015, Khon Kaen Province has allocated more than 12 million baht of budget to support the promotion of Khon Kaen MICE City project which is running under the operation for Khon Kaen’s MICE industry advancement in line with the pre-determined model scheme. Highlights of the project include the international convention centre and pre-historic tourist attractions; the production of guidebook, both in Thailand English, as public relations medium; domestic road show and the establishment of MICE network for knowledge exchange. Media Education Trip is being held to let Thai and international members of the press to experience Khon Kaen by themselves in order to promote the public image of Khon Kaen as an ideal MICE City. In addition, the Khon Kaen MICE City Centre was formed as an information centre of the province, side by side with the training of MICE personnel as a preparation for the AEC integration through the escalation of Khon Kaen’s MICE industry towards international standards.

Furthermore, operation for the implementation of strategic plan of Khon Kaen (year 2014-2017) has been conducted under the vision “Khon Kaen the Livable City. Center of Commercial Network, Investment and Service Business of the GMS” and comprises 3 key missions as follows: 1.Strengthen the community with unity and peaceful living, 2.Support Khon Kaen to grow as a livable city with sustainability and 3.Develop Khon Kaen as the GMS’scentre by which MICE industry can serve as a mechanism to make Khon Kaen soar as an ideal MICE City, the hub of conference and exhibition for the northeast that well serves visitors from domestic destinations, as well as from the Indochina and southern China.

Meanwhile, the Khon Kaen Municipality has designed development plans to implement the 3-year scheme (year 2014-2016) in accordance with key strategic plan mapped out by the province. These include the increase of economic competitiveness which comprises the betterment of transportation that suits the nature of city, the improvement of infrastructure and urban planning, the development of local economic and investment to serve infrastructure administration that plays a vital role in promoting economic and investment potential, the research of mass transit and the BRT system, as well as the establishment of new exhibition centre that meets international standards in Khon Kaen Province. In overall, 59 projects have been initiated under the budget of 78,964,000 baht for which will also include necessary improvement and development of mass transportation and traffic system, the addition of road surface, the specific subdivision of land and the creation of opportunities in the use of tourist attractions.

Moreover, a strategy to promote Khon Kaen as the Event City has been set forth by harmonising the province’s strengths with the “OK Khon Kaen” campaign that was conducted through the promotion of local traditions to create new economic zone. The campaign expects to build an awareness of Khon Kaen, as well as attract domestic and foreign MICE travellers for the whole year. For example, the Kaen International Film Festival, Amazing Flower Festival, Khon Kaen Countdown, Khon Kaen International Marathon, Northeast Agricultural Fair, International Silk Festival, and many more. All of which will encourage local economic activities, consumer spending and income distribution. With all strategic endeavours, the province expects that the revenue of 2,000 million baht will be generated each year in order to make Khon Kaen soar as a MICE City that is capable of serving international events with sustainability.