ITU conference in Thailand: another success of TCEB

Though Thailand’s ready for its fully-equipped exhibition venues, tourist attractions, infrastructure and facilities, hi-tech communication system plus experienced and knowledgeable personnel, however, in the pool of competition with Singapore, Macau or Hong Kong, basic readiness in organizing exhibition may not be enough for attracting international events to run in the country. New event pulling strategies are in need such as analyzing rivals’ weaknesses and our strengths in order to create more competitive advantages. It’s a challenge for TCEB to overcome this. TCEB has deployed some strategies, for example, promoting international trade fairs which account for 30% of exhibitions in Thailand. To increase this percentage, TECB will focus more on the world-class and regional

events in accordance with considering reliability of the organizers. Those newcomers will be encouraged and get all supports to come back in the following year whereas existing exhibitions will receive better quality in terms of the overall performance and number of visitors. TCEB efforts result in at least 50 exhibitions in Thailand annually. The coming-up one is ITU Asia 2008 held in 2-5 September at IMPACT Muangthong Thani, with more than 20,000 top-level officials and CEO attendants.

ITU or International Telecommunication Union is an agency of the United Nations responsible for Radiocommunication, Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development in membership countries including locating satellite launching locations. ITU normally hosts telecom seminar and exhibition every 2 years rotating to all regions in the world. Previous selected Asian countries included Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. Thailand has tried to host this event several times but defeated to South Korea and Hong Kong. Until 2007, TCEB can beat South Korea and Indonesia by inches and finally Thailand is appointed to be the host of ITU Asia 2008.

Mr. Patrapee Chinachot, the Committee of TECB and the president of Trade Exhibition Association, mentioned that one of the significant factors for this success is the quality management of TCEB as an independent organization or public company which has a full right in auctioning and proposal submission. This makes us flexible and reacts fast to ITU needs which, in consequence, wins over big guy like South Korea after we’ve tried for the last 10 years. TCEB is confident that we can promote ITU Asia 2008 much better than what South Korea did before. Besides, we are looking forward to hosting in this event again in 2010.

Being the host of such a big international event makes Thailand shine in global stage and draw revenues from quality visitors who spend approximately 84,000 Baht per trip per head, accumulated as high as 3 billion Baht revenues. In addition, the event drives Thailand ICT businesses and helps Thai entrepreneurs. Most importantly, we need to build continuity in hosting it next time in order to encourage MICE industry to be a strategic drive of sustainable Thailand economy.