Thailand to lure more exhibitions

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is moving forward to promote international conventions and exhibitions in Thailand in 2019, focusing on winning bids to host new major events to respond to the government’s Thailand 4.0 Policy on national target industry.

For 2019, 43 major events are secured, and it is expected that the projected number of MICE travellers of 133,435 will generate more than 5,025 billion baht of income for Thailand.   

Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, disclosed that TCEB has continued to work hard to leverage Thailand’s MICE industry, according to the government’s Thailand 4.0 Policy that concentrates on driving the economy with technology, creativity and innovation.

For Fiscal-Year 2019, in bidding for the right to host international conventions and exhibitions, TCEB has concentrated on high potential events which are new to Thailand. Our focus has been on major events representing key industries in regard to comply with the government’s goals on national target industry. This year, there are 43 major events set to be held in Thailand by which TCEB has played a significant role in winning those bids. It is foreseen that the number of Thai and foreign MICE travellers will total 133,435 which can generate more than 5,025 billion baht of income.

The winning bids comprise 26 international conventions, which can attract up to 36,090 delegates and generate approximately 2,880 million baht of income, and 17 international exhibitions with the number of visitors expected at 97,349 and an estimated income of over 2,145 million baht.

TCEB President said more that, recently in March, Thailand was honoured to host newly drawn events, such as the IEEE PES GTD Grand International Conference and Exposition Asia 2019, which is the world’s leading academic conference and international exhibition on power and energy with 10,000 delegates. It is worth noting that Thailand is the first in Asia to receive the honour to host this event, which was estimated to bring over 239 million baht of income into the country. With the intention to promote Thai pharmaceutical products in the global arena, Thailand had also hosted the CPhI South East Asia 2019, which is Thailand’s first pharmaceutical exhibition that registered up to 4,975 delegates, generating approximately 114 million baht of income.  

Besides those new bids, TCEB has eagerly provided support to large-scale significant exhibitions that have been held in Thailand for years, such as the VIV Asia, held during 13-15 March, which is Asia’s number 1 trade show for technology and seminar for livestock and aquatic animals industry. The organiser expected the number of MICE travellers had reached 44,860, which generated about 3,921 million baht of income. Additionally, there are two more international exhibitions happening in June, including the Propak Asia 2019, an international processing and packaging event, with an approximate number of visitors of 59,220 with an estimated amount of income of 659 million baht, and the INTERMACH 2019, ASEAN’s leading industrial machinery and subcontracting exhibition, which is expected to welcome 19,100 visitors and draw 113 million baht of income.

“Considering large-scale international conventions and trade shows receiving support from TCEB in 2019, it is obvious that certain events are interesting and contributing to the growth and development of MICE industry, as well as target industries stipulated by the government’s 4.0 Policy, ranging from agriculture, food and pharmaceuticals, energy to new technology. All of which will not only contribute to economic growth, but also emphasise the potentiality of Thailand as the number 1 destination for conventions and exhibitions in ASEAN,” said Chiruit.