TCEB turns to Oceania, Asia markets
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau is planning to penetrate the Asia and Oceania markets this year to offset the slowdown of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) travellers as a result of the European debt crisis and the eco
“The financial problems in those areas are the biggest concern for the MICE industry this year,” TCEB president Akapol Sorasuchart said yesterday. “However, we will continue to promote the ‘Year of MICE’ campaign aggressively, particularly focusing on regional markets.”
Akapol said the agency would join 10 international trade fairs this year in Japan, Australia, China, Germany, the US, South Korea and Spain. It will conduct roadshows in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Russia, Britain, Germany, China and Asean countries including Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and Burma.
The TCEB is also helping to drive growth in the domestic MICE market and supporting activities under the “MICE City” campaign.
The bureau will support a number of domestic events, including Hat Yai Book Week, the seventh December Flora Fair, Pattaya |Food and Hotelier Expo 2012 and Pattaya International Livestock Show 2012.
It will use key international events that have already been confirmed throughout the year to restore confidence in Thailand among overseas business travellers. Those events include Amway China (18,000 delegates), Hindustan Unilever (1,700 delegates), the 2012 Rotary International Convention (30,000 delegates), Million Dollar Round Table (5,000 delegates), Asian Pacific Digestive Week (3,000 delegates), the 15th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (3,000 delegates), and the World Tunnel Congress (2,200 delegates).
Akapol added that though Thailand would host big events like the Rotary International Convention, MICE earnings this year would grow only slightly over 2011. This is a result of the impact of the recent massive floods as well as the European sovereign debt crisis, the economic slowdown in the US, and inflation in China.
However, the country expects to welcome 750,000 international MICE visitors with Bt60.1 billion in receipts as well as 1.9 million local MICE travellers with Bt10 million in revenue.
According to this target, average spending per head for international business travellers will be about Bt80,160 per trip.
The TCEB also projects seeing more than a million international MICE visitors with Bt87.3 billion in receipts within five years.
