TCEB and Exhibition Organizing Development

TCEB was established in 2002, administrated by the Prime Minister’s Office, for the purpose of facilitating the operations and work proactively and independently to meet the needs of business sectors effectively and efficiently. Its core strategies include 1) Drawing conferences and exhibitions to Thailand, especially high potential national, regional or up-scale events i.e. Medical, International exhibition. TCEB expects to generate revenue target of 55 billion Baht annually and supports private sector to win biddings and bring back more international conferences and exhibitions with over 800,000 attendees a year. 2) Promoting Thailand as the preferred destination for conference and exhibition in this region. 3) Upgrading, standardizing and endorsing service and manpower quality as well as developing database system to be the information pool in Thailand’s MICE Industry in order to meet international standards and win over its competitors.

TCEB working policy is to work as Thai team which refers to the coordination between the government departments and private sectors to build powerful cooperation in Thai MICE industry as means to create strength and competitive edge beyond other countries.

The Thai government had been continuously upholding MICE industry in every way. In setting up national security restoration and economic policy, MICE industry is one of the economic and investment stimuli. To restore investment confidence and encourage tourism, the government has announced year 2007-2008 to be the “Year of Investment” and “Year of Thai Tourism”. MICE industry is also a tool for developing business and service standards to create an opportunity for production base and market expansion up to regional level.

One part of MICE industry that can stimulate business and service sector is International Exhibition. It is one department under TCEB. Having international exhibitions arranged in Thailand can be represented as bringing global market into the country. It gives market opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs and exporters since an exhibition is a stage for buyers to meet sellers under the business negotiation and networking environment.

International Exhibition also generates both direct and indirect revenues for the country. Direct revenues include revenues from service sector i.e. expenses in hotels and accommodations, restaurants, transportations from international visitors. These bring more than 15 billion Baht a year or 25% of the total MICE revenues. While other exhibition related activities such as exhibition service and negotiation or deal closing are considered as indirect revenues.

We will talk about how to gain trust to Thai economics in next issue.