TCEB builds bullish targets

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau adjusted its 2013 fiscal year visitors and revenue targets for MICE business , the bureau reported earlier this week.

TCEB board member and acting president, Thongchai Sridama, said the bureau has revised MICE visitors and revenue to grow by 5% to 10%.

“This year, TCEB targets 940,000 MICE visitors generating Bt88,000 million in revenue compared with the former goal of 792,000 visits and Bt63,920 million in revenue.”

Of the revised MICE visitor, 231,000 visits will be in the meeting category (25%) followed by 229,800 visits in the incentive sector (24%), 306,600 visits for conventions (33%), and 172,600 visits for exhibitions (18%).

Domestic MICE business has also been revised. The bureau now targets 16.5 million trips and Bt13,600 million in income up from 13.5 million trips and Bt12,000 million.

Mr Thongchai said TCEB has three key strategies for the domestic and international markets.

In the international market it will expand MICE to secondary or so-called emerging markets such as China’s Guangdong, while the major markets remain Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou.

It will tap Myanmar’s Dawei region to connect to China, India and Bangladesh.

On the domestic front, the bureau will support upgrades of Khon Kaen (Northeast) and Hat Yai in Songkhla province to become designated MICE cities.

TCEB will increase partnerships with international MICE organisations to create events that focuses on product and service development. It will cooperate with partner airlines to build business during the low season through promotions linked to MICE activities.

It will also prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community through the following strategies:

• Study the potential of MICE operators;

• Develop MICE curriculums to build private sector readiness;

• Organise MICE training throughout Thailand;

• Establish a committee for MICE and public relations to build awareness of MICE collaboration within ASEAN.

TCEB hopes to support MICE operators in Thailand to expand to do business in four target countries — Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Sourced: ttgasia