TCEB passes on its standard to ASEAN

BANGKOK Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau says all 10 ASEAN ministers have endorsed the Thailand MICE Venue Standard as the model to adopt across the 10-nation region.

TCEB president, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, said TCEB would take the lead role to finalise the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard based largely on features in Thailand’s own venue standard.

“The vote of confidence from the ASEAN minsters confirmed the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard, will be based on the framework of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard,” he said.

TCEB initiated the Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) in 2013 to develop Thailand’s meetings and exhibitions venues. It will now assume the role of a template for other ASEAN nations  to adopt that will  ultimately lead to a common regional standard across the region.

ASEAN often assigns to one its members the lead role in developing a standard linked to tourism infrastructure or services. Laos was given the lead role in developing a sustainable tourism standard.

“We have rolled out the TMVS in five MICE cities (Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Khon Kaen), as well as Hat Yai, and put in place a working plan to cover other high potential cities in various clusters in line with government policy,” the TCEB president said.

Thailand will begin lead role duties by hosting the ASEAN MICE Venue Standard Auditor Training, 15 to 18 March, in Bangkok, to provide an opportunity for all member countries to learn more about the venue standard and how to assess them.

Thailand is also the host of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 (ATF 2018) – scheduled to be held in Chiang Mai for the first time.

During the forum an ASEAN MICE Venue Standard certification ceremony for all certified MICE operators from 10 ASEAN member countries will take place.