No matter which path you choose, success is sure to follow….
At 19th IT&CMA and 14th CTW Asia Pacific
Bangkok: 4 October 2011 – At this year’s 19th IT&CMA and 14th CTW Asia-Pacific event from 4-6 October, TCEB will launch Phase 2 of its ‘Believe in Thailand’ campaign. A new emphasis is reflected in the campaign’s new theme: ‘Thailand: Destination of “CHOICES” No matter which path you choose, success is sure to follow.’
Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, TCEB President, explained, “The theme perfectly reflects the multitude of choices, options and settings that together make Thailand a unique and perfect location for your next business events. Our goal is to ensure that every experience is unique, with more choices now and the most choices for the future. Thailand’s MICE and travel operators work to world-class standards, and will give your event the special, personalized service it requires because the diversity available allows you to personally design your event for maximum success.
“This event offers a perfect platform to highlight Thailand’s potential and new marketing direction, and we expect this year to be a record year, with delegate numbers continuing to grow. We already have 2,457 preregistered delegates and 827 exhibitors from 60 countries, so the event promises to surpass last year’s final figure of 2,340 delegates.”
The event is recognized as the largest and most important meetings and incentives trade show in the Asia-Pacific region. With the concept “Winning Asia and Beyond”, the event is the result of cooperation between Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), TTG Asia Media and the Thai Team, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (Thailand) or TICA, Thai Airways International Plc., Tourism Council of Thailand, Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).
Designed to serve as a platform to showcase the potential of the Asia-Pacific meetings and incentives industry, IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific is the industry’s flagship event in the region, aiming to attract MICE travelers from around the world to meet in Asia. The event will generate opportunities to exchange and learn latest MICE innovations and boost trade between MICE buyers and service providers from across the globe.
Commenting on the event, TCEB’s President, Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart said “TCEB extends its warmest congratulations to IT&CMA on this auspicious occasion of the 10th anniversary of IT&CMA in Thailand. We are truly honored that IT&CMA has chosen Thailand as the venue for its flagship double bill event for so long, It choice demonstrates Thailand’ maturity and resilience as a business event destination as well as tourist destination. It also represents a strong vote of confidence in the world-class professional standards, diverse offerings and value for money that Thailand offers and delivers.
“This year Thailand will have the largest pavilion of all Asia-Pacific countries participating, with a 375 sq. metres space. The pavilion will accommodate 61 private sector businesses, including hotels, DMCs, event organizers and meetings planners.This year’s event is expected to generate revenues of over 1 billion Baht, and Thailand has also been granted the right to organize the IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific for a further year, until 2012.
Commenting on the role of TCEB, Mr. Akapol added, “TCEB is a government agency mandated to support the development of Thailand’s business event, or MICE industry. We have worked very closely with the private sector- the tourism and hotel industry, as well as the convention and trade fair industry, to identify the key constraints to the sector’s growth, and how we may best target our support for private sector development. TCEB provides financial and non-financial assistance to Thailand-based MICE operators in market promotion, bid preparation and strategic advice. But we also have some exciting support packages specifically tailored to the needs of overseas MICE operators, professional bodies and societies who want to bring their business events to Thailand. I therefore encourage you to contact us to find out how TCEB can help you organize a superlative, memorable and cost-effective event here in Thailand.
“The theme of the second phase of TCEB’s ‘Believe in Thailand’ campaign at IT&CMA, and its emphasis on choices, is very appropriate. TCEB has categorised the MICE industry into 3 segments: Meetings, Trade Shows and International Events. No matter which path you choose, TCEB will assist you towards your business success step by step. Believe in Thailand to ensure that your next business event soars to even greater heights. Thailand’s reputation for hospitality is unsurpassed and when combined with professional services, world class infrastructure and facilities, varities of meeting destinations and countless business opportunities, it will comes as no surprise that you will want to come back again and again.” Mr. Akapol added.
This year, Thailand is expected to welcome almost 720,000 MICE visitors to the country, who will participate in meetings& incentives, conventions, exhibitions and trade fairs, generating expected revenues of 57.6 billion baht.
“Our recently announced MICE policy and 5-year roadmap projects global MICE travelers to Thailand to increase by more than 75% from 2012 to 2016, with revenues up by more than 87% by the year 2016. Thailand’s MICE industry is also projected to play an increasingly important role in the country’s overall economy; today the MICE industry represents only 9.13% of total tourism revenues for 2011, but this share is expected to rise to 18.35% by 2016, with revenues of 130.92 billion Baht.”
Mr. Akapol also noted the significant progress in Thailand’s bid to host the World Expo 2020: “TCEB is also playing a central role in coordinating Thailand’s bid to host World Expo 2020 in the ancient capital of Ayuthaya. We have already conducted a series of events, including the recent ‘World Expo 2020” in coordination with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, in order to build public awareness, support and unity among Thai people from all walks of life in supporting our bid to host this mega-event.”
Concluding, Mr. Akapol offered his perspective on the enormous opportunity represented by the forthcoming formation of the ASEAN Economic Community, or AEC in 2015. “The projected value of trade in AEC, at 6.4 trillion US dollars, will represent quarter of global trade, which translates into countless business opportunities through closer economic cooperation within the region. From now on, when we talk about Thailand, we are also speaking as a representative of the AEC because Thailand serves as the natural gateway to the ASEAN countries. With Modern infrastructure and facilities, such as 6 international airports nationwide, the upcoming high speed rail network through Thailand and direct access to Kunming – Singapore rail link, Thailand is the center of North South and East West Corridors of ASEAN and can therefore ensure maximum mobility for participants, providing them the most choices for meetings and events. We therefore believe the AEC market holds enormous promise as well as challenges, and will fuel strong economic growth and a flourishing MICE industry in the region.
