THAI MICE industry projecting huge growth

Thailand’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector is doing well. In the first six months of 2006, Thailand saw a growth of 70.54% in visitor arrivals for conventions and a 27.95% increase in business travellers.

The highest numbers for convention delegates were from the ASEAN region, led by Malaysia followed by Singapore and Indonesia. Delegates from Japan were up by 112.44% and Korea 358.50%.

According to the estimated figures for 2007 conducted by the Thailand Conventional and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Thailand will receive a total of 814,000 MICE delegates, generating about 56 billion baht foreign exchange revenue for the Thai economy.

TCEB plans to build itself into an agile and professional organisation that will harness the power of marketing intelligence and databases and bolster industry knowledge and skills development.

TCEB also has profiled the local trade and industry associations, especially the medical fraternity which holds the biggest annual conventions. In the field of exhibitions, particular attention will be paid to the top global industries: jewellery, automotive, agriculture and fashion.