Events head Bangkok’s way

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau says the country MICE sector will still win some major international events despite the political setbacks and concerns over security.

TCEB president, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, confirmed that Thailand will host some major international MICE events during the second half of 2014 and 2015, including the 74th FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014 due to be hosted in Bangkok 31 August to 4 September.

The event was confirmed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), a global federation representing 3 million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, worldwide. Around 2,000 members will join the congress.

Unicity International, an international multi-level marketing company, has picked Thailand as the venue for its Unicity Global Convention, 16 to 18 October, also in Bangkok. The event is expected to attract more than 50,000.

The World Puppet Carnival has also reaffirmed its confidence in Thailand by announcing its “Harmony World Puppet Carnival” will be held in Bangkok, with an anticipated 30,000 people attending this 1 to 10 November event.

“These confirmations signal renewed international confidence in the Thai MICE sector, as operations return to normal after the country’s political transition,” the TCEB president said.

He added: “Stability is a key consideration for MICE travellers and the confidence shown by international organisers is proof that Thailand is again ready to host MICE events of any size and scale.”

TCEB expects the country will attract 157,930 high-quality business travellers during the final quarter of the 2014 fiscal year. High quality in this sense means travellers who will spend considerable cash in the country.

The Harmony World Puppet Carnival will be held, 1 to 10 November, in a historic area of Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Island. It will feature 124 productions from 74 countries, including 66 European countries and six in Asia.

TCEB also noted that the IT&CMA Asia and CTW Asia Pacific Corporate Travel World will continue to be hosted in Bangkok. Other events include the 10th International Mycological Congress (IMC), as well as international exhibitions and trade fairs such as Food & Hotel Thailand 2014, INTERMACH 2015, and ProPak Asia 2015, all annual exhibitions that are firmly established in Thailand.

These confirmed events complement the 15 bids recently won by Thailand to host upcoming global conventions, which are expected to attract nearly 10,000 international visitors.

TCEB recently re-forecast the growth of Thailand’s MICE industry, estimating that Thailand will be able to generate MICE revenue of THB87,210 million and welcome 888,210 MICE travellers this year. Earlier, the bureau set an events-related target of 980,000 visitors and revenue of THB96 billion by year end.

In 2013, Thailand attracted 1,013,502 MICE travellers earning THB88,485 million in revenue.

Sourced: ttrweekly