As Thailand continues to make waves in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry, their triumph at IMEX Frankfurt 2023 has turned heads worldwide. Garnering 120 leads and 61,141 potential visitors, Thailand plans to use this momentum to triple the influx of European visitors for 2023.

The IMEX event, renowned for its global reach, saw attendees from over ten countries, including Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, the USA, Mexico, and India, on the IMEX website. Thai suppliers and the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) together amassed 960 appointments with eager overseas buyers.

The Thailand Pavilion, buoyant with the energy of meetings, presentations, and cultural experiences, was home to 29 exhibitors – a vivid cross-section of the country’s MICE stakeholders, including nine hotels from Bangkok, five from Phuket, and one each from Samui and Khao Lak, seven destination management companies, three venues, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Airways International, and TCEB itself.

IMEX – TCEB Stand 2023

The MICE market in Europe is particularly enticing to Thailand. TCEB has set its 2023 target at 91,200 visitors, a more than threefold increase from the 27,080 recorded in 2022. This aggressive target amounts to 12% of the overall overseas MICE visitor target of 760,000 for the year on the TCEB website.

At IMEX 2023, TCEB showcased two upcoming high-profile events: the ICCA Annual Congress scheduled for November 12–15, 2023, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which are slated for 2026 in Bangkok on the ICCA website, or World Bank Group website.

According to TCEB President, Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, “Thailand had one of its best showings at IMEX this year.” The TCEB president further highlighted Thailand’s rankings in Cvent’s Top 10 Meetings Destinations in Asia-Pacific, with Bangkok and Phuket ranking 3rd and 10th, respectively, on Cvent’s website.

TCEB’s latest campaign, ‘Thailand MICE to Meet You’, introduces more sustainability, local engagement, and quality assurance, all in response to the evolving needs of the business world. Thailand’s MICE sector is ready to rise to the occasion, demonstrating to the world that it is more than equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow’s global MICE industry.

Written by: Supaporn  Pholrach (Joom)

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