TCEB ANNOUNCES 2016 “D-MICE” STRATEGY AIMING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

Bangkok, 22 January 2016 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB announced the strategy to step up its Domestic MICE (D-MICE) efforts in response to the Royal Thai Government’s policy on stimulating the Thai economy towards sustainability, and to continue its “Meetings in Thailand” campaign with the launch of new destinations, strategic marketing promotions and flagship events as well as expanding MICE cluster and attracting more MICE business from the neighbouring countries. Through the strategic activities, the Bureau targets D-MICE to achieve a quantum leap growth in the second and third quarter of this year.

Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President of TCEB revealed that: “Under the Royal Thai Government’s policy handed down for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports by Deputy Prime Minister Mr Somkid Jatusripitak, the special committee comprising government agencies, private organisations and the public are to step up D-MICE efforts to bolster the Thai economy by helping to distribute revenue to all regions of the country, elevate income level, and promote sustainable economy. In response to this, TCEB has prepared a number of strategic initiatives.”

The first initiative is to disperse D-MICE revenue to all regions and help elevate income level for the locals. This includes the “Quick WIN” strategy to encourage the holding of MICE events in Thailand, emphasising on “New Destinations” that cater for domestic MICE events including meetings and incentives, educational trips and corporate activities, especially for the Royal Projects to commemorate the three auspicious occasions in 2016. This year marks His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 70th anniversary of accession to the throne and the 88th birthday anniversary, as well as Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's seventh cycle or 84th birthday anniversary. To celebrate the significant year for Thailand, TCEB has identified several unique royal projects that can cater for meetings and seminars to highlight the creative excellence of the royal family of Thailand and encourage the holding of MICE events domestically.

This initiative will be supported by the “Quick WIN” promotion for meetings and incentives in which TCEB will offer a financial subsidy of 30,000-800,000 baht, depending on the number of participants per group, for targeted activities including teambuilding and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, coffee breaks, and speaker’s compensations. For Domestic Exhibitions, TCEB will provide a financial subsidy of 100,000-1,000,000 baht for events that branch out to other regions of Thailand and newly-invented provincial fairs that promote local investments, as part of the plans to stimulate investments and bolster economy in all parts of the country. For the second and third quarters of 2016, TCEB will emphasise on stimulating domestic meetings and incentives in line with the Royal Thai Government’s policy to boost spending in the first half of the year.

The second initiative is the development of the Thai MICE industry towards sustainability, which forms part of TCEB’s medium- to long-term strategy in line with the Royal Thai Government’s policy to enhance the position of Thailand as the hub of MICE events through the launch of new convention centres and privileges in the provincial MICE clusters, the introduction of new venues for MICE activities, and the promotion of local products and services to stimulate local economy. The plan also includes the move to adjust related rules and regulations that will benefit both MICE events and leisure tourism activities.

Under this initiative, TCEB has placed emphasis on the development of the “Thailand’s MICE Cities” to highlight the capability of each potential MICE City through “Flagship Event” as a unique selling proposition, and continue its “Meetings in Thailand” campaign to encourage public and private organisations in Thailand to hold MICE events within the country. Along with the expansion of MICE Cluster to offer alternatives on events venues, products and services for MICE travellers, TCEB plans to attract companies listed on the ASEAN’s stock markets, especially from the CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam) cluster to hold corporate meetings in Thailand through strategic subsidy programme.

“In addition, TCEB's Board of Directors is currently pushing for the realisation of a special MICE industry law to facilitate investment on the services industry. This law will lead to special privileges for MICE business operators such as tax deduction scheme, and help propel the MICE industry toward sustainability and cement the position of Thailand as the top MICE destination,” concluded Mr Nopparat.

In 2015, Thailand recorded a total of 23,702,488 Domestic MICE or D-MICE travellers, earning to the Thai economy 46,401 million Baht. For 2016, TCEB targets the number of D-MICE travellers to increase by 5-10 per cent with a quantum leap growth anticipated for the second and third quarter of this year through the “Quick WIN” strategy. The Bureau also expects D-MICE events to take place throughout the year with highlighted events include the Thailand Domestic MICE Mart 2016, Luangprabang-Indochina-Mawlamyine Economic Corridor (LIMEC) International Conference “PhuDoo” 2016, Thai Chamber of Commerce Conference 2016, and the 50th Personnel Management Association of Thailand (PMAT).

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

Ms Paniyada Mulalin    Tel: + 662 694 6091    Email: paniyada_m@tceb.or.th