TCEB IS GOING FORWARD TO EXPLORE MICE MARKET IN 2016, EYEING TO REVIVE CONFIDENCE BASING ON 3 KEY CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO ESCALATE THAILAND AS ASIA’S QUALITY MICE HUB

Bangkok/26 August 2015 - Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB plans to explore MICE market in 2016 with 3 key campaigns designed to enable organisers to attract foreign MICE travellers, add international representatives to crack into new markets and lift an awareness of MICE. Expecting to escalate public image of Thailand as an ideal destination for MICE in Asia, the Meetings Industry Day serves as the arena for declaration of policies by which will include knowledge sharing by gurus on successful bidding tips and connection building among Thai MICE entrepreneurs to strengthen the industry.

Mr. Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, disclosed that, “TCEB has formulated the promotional plan for Thai MICE in 2016, involving conventions, meetings and incentives segments, to target at the escalation of Thailand’s public image as a high quality MICE destination of Asia and increase revenues from MICE for which will expand further towards sustainability. MICE strategies for 2016 will embrace creating awareness; seeking prospective markets particularly corporate meetings and incentives across South Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East; designation of regional work teams; adding marketing representatives in Singapore and Australia besides the existing ones in China, Japan, India and the USA; reinforcing marketing campaigns towards the targets and collaborating with associates in event bidding in a successive manner.”

Under the framework designed to promote Thai MICE, TCEB will move forward with 3 key marketing campaigns through the year. Firstly, the conventions segment will see the Visitor Promotion (ASEAN+6) Campaign. Having been running for two consecutive years, in this year the campaign will support event organisers in terms of marketing activities with the intention to draw more foreign attendees into Thailand especially any group of 300, as well as to raise the proportion of attendees from the ASEAN+6 (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea and India).

Secondly, the meetings and incentives segments will introduce the Thailand Connect… Connect beyond the capital… Fly to Explore Our Diverse Destinations Campaign in which will enable international corporate groups to encourage more MICE travellers to travel into Thailand on meetings and incentives purposes. Privileges are particularly available for the holding of MICE events in any MICE City with the supporting budget scheme basing on certain conditions, such as group travelling conducted during October 2015-December 2016 via domestic flights operated by the airline that is a marketing associate with TCEB. Thirdly, the Thailand BIG Thanks! Campaign has a special offer for foreign corporate groups entering into Thailand for meetings or incentives activity in order to attract large groups of conventions or mega events into the country with support in terms of budget during the period of October 2015-December 2016.

Moreover, a wide array of marketing promotional activities are coming up as TCEB will join 7 global conventions trade shows, ranging from the IT&CMA / CTW, IMEX America, IBTM World, AIME, IT&CM China, IMEX Frankfurt to the IBTM China. In addition, the bureau will take part in 7 roadshows, including Japan Roadshow, Malaysia Roadshow, Singapore Roadshow, China Roadshow, Europe Roadshow, India Roadshow and the Indonesia Roadshow. Familiarisation trips will also be held to encourage the conventions markets in targeted countries, which are China, India, Singapore, Philippines, Australia and Japan.

Mr. Nopparat further added that, “The Meetings Industry Day held this year is the 6th yearly symposium and is considered an annual conference for TCEB and MICE entrepreneurs. The meeting serves as a prime arena that creates awareness and declares policies, as well as our moves for the promotion of conventions, meetings and incentives activities in Thailand. The Meetings Industry Day is also a communication channel whereby useful information and experiences will be shared by the industry’s professionals. Being expected as a space for Thai entrepreneurs to create marketing connections and benefit from knowledge base on MICE business operation, the event is definitely another channel that strengthens the capabilities of MICE entrepreneurs specialising in conventions operation.”

“In this year, TCEB has Prof. Pongsak Wannakrairot MD with us. He is a professional who will share his experience in bidding The 30th Congress of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP 2014). We will have Mr. John Blaski as well. He is highly experienced in holding exhibitions and marketing activities through trade shows and will be sharing his precious knowledge. There will be the Q&A session for private sector to speak up their questions regarding markets in China, Japan, India and the USA whereby TCEB already has representatives, and so on.”

Overall picture of Thai MICE in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2015 (October 2015-June 2016) shows the number of MICE travellers of 586,468 which generated 51,592 million baht of revenue which can be broken down as follows: the conventions has 195,368 travellers with 18,144 million baht revenue; the meetings has 192,879 travellers with 20,863 million baht revenue and the incentives has 198,221 travellers with 12,585 million baht revenue.

Furthermore, Thailand has achieved for the country was selected to host international conventions by which the bureau won the bids, as well as other large-scale events that TCEB provides support. For example, the 40th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association with 2,500 attendees; the 46th World Congress of Surgery 2015 with 2,000 attendees and the FDI Annual World Dental Congress with 10,000 attendees.

Meetings and incentives events being granted with support from TCEB include 210 groups of 61,732 travellers in total. Highlighted events comprise the Manulife MDRT PEAK Convention 2015 with 2,000 attendees, Herbalife Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2015 with 20,000 attendees, Perfect Marie-Anne Tour 2015 (Perfect China Incentive Trip) with 5,000 attendees and the Infinitus China Overseas Training with 12,000 attendees. After all, in pursuit of achieving the target set to reinforce Thai MICE in 2015, hosting remarkable conventions and supporting the holding of MICE events are indispensable. With the number of MICE travellers of 845,900 which can generate 89,780 million baht of revenue, plus the target of overall Thai MICE, it is expected that Thailand will definitely have a chance to welcome 1,036,300 MICE travellers which can bring approximately 106,780 million baht of revenue into the country.

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For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications Division, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau

Ms Arisara Thanuplang    Tel: +662 694 6095    Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Ms Kanokwan Kadeedaeng    Tel: + 662 694 6006    Email: kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th

Ms Kwanchanok Otton Tel: + 662 694 6096 Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th