AUSTRALIA FUELS GROWTH OF THAI BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY

Melbourne / 24 February 2015 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB, has today unveiled the success of Thailand’s business events industry in the 2014 fiscal year, driven by significant growth of visitor numbers from Australia and Oceania. The bureau reported that from October 2013 to September 2014, Thailand welcomed 919,614 business events travellers, contributing more than AUD2.69 billion to the country’s economy. As an integral part of the success of the country’s meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions sectors, Australia placed in Thailand’s top six source markets, with the number of business events travellers surging 137 per cent year-on-year to 37,947, earning the Thai economy AUD116.76 million. Success was also seen in the broader region, with Oceania visitor numbers increasing 81 per cent to 47,446. The momentum continued in the first quarter of the 2015 fiscal year – October to December 2014 – when a worldwide total of 190,660 business events travellers generated more than AUD547.93 million for the Thai economy.

Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB, commented on the remarkable growth of the Australia and Oceania markets during the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo 2015 (AIME) held in Melbourne, stating that, “As the Thai government’s official flagship body for the business events sector, a core part of TCEB’s mission is to foster the close connections that have been developed with our counterparts and business travellers in key markets such as Australia and Oceania. A 137 per cent increase in Australian visitors in 2014 confirms that our direction in this region is attuned with market demands, especially within the corporate meetings and incentive travels segments.”

At AIME this year, TCEB is building even further on the success of its Australian outreach programme with the launch of Thailand CONNECT The World, an integrated campaign highlighting three of Thailand’s key unique features as a business events host: unrivalled destinations, business prospects, and people. Under ‘Destinations’, Thailand’s five top tier business events cities are showcased, offering limitless options both inside and outside the event venue. ‘Business’ highlights how, as a world leader in industries such as energy, automotive and machinery, food and agriculture, healthcare and more, Thailand continues to harness regional integration to offer global prospects and opportunities to businesses seeking a springboard for success in the AEC. Lastly, ‘People’ emphasises Thailand’s proficient professionals who serve with effortless simplicity, gracious smiles and signature Thai service, as well as the benchmark-setting industry standards covering everything from meeting spaces to security.

“The Thailand CONNECT the World campaign being introduced in Australia for the first time at AIME 2015 highlights how Thailand’s diversity of destinations are enriched by world-class infrastructure and seamless connectivity,” Mr Nopparat added.

TCEB is also reaching out to prospective buyers at AIME with the Thailand: Inspiring Destination campaign showcasing how organizers can add value to their business event by elevating it to the next level with a range of fulfilling CSR activities. The picturesque beaches of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga in Southern Thailand offer activities such as releasing turtles, cultivating coral, cleaning up the beach and planting sea grass. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the mountains of Northern Thailand offer the chance to care for and feed rescued elephants, build check dams, or conduct aerial reforestation, while in Bangkok and the surrounding cities of Ayutthaya and Samut Sakhon, delegates can volunteer in schools, read for the blind, clean up local rivers, or engage in mangrove reforestation. The addition of these CSR activities to a business event agenda means delegates will conclude their visit feeling both personally and professionally fulfilled.

The third element of TCEB’s outreach is the introduction of a special Meetings Bonus, which offers organizers generous financial subsidies for groups of 100 or more delegates who visit Thailand for four nights or longer to attend corporate meetings and incentives. With applications open from now until 30 June, and travel to take place before 30 September, the offer is available exclusively for long haul markets including Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Africa. For groups of 100 or more, organisers will receive a subsidy of AUD3,333, while larger groups of 300 will receive AUD10,000, and organisers facilitating groups of 1,000 people or more are eligible for AUD33,333.

Confirming its leadership position as a preferred business events destinations in Asia, TCEB also announced that Thailand will play host to a diverse line-up of confirmed major business events in 2015, which include One Young World Summit 2015 Bangkok, FDI 2015 Annual World Dental Congress, TBEX Asia 2015, HerbaLife Asia-Pacific Extravaganza 2015, INTERMACH 2015, PROPAK 2015 and Food & Hotel Thailand 2015, among others.

“We are confident that through a combination of the Thailand CONNECT The World campaign, as well as targeted initiatives such as the Thailand: Inspiring Destination campaign and our special Meetings Bonus, the Thai business events sector will continue to grow strongly in 2015. This year, Thailand expects to welcome 1,036,300 business events visitors, generating revenue of approximately AUD3.55 billion.”

“In the important Australia market we forecast visitor numbers to grow to 39,500 in 2015, delivering revenue 115.7 million Australian dollars, while in Oceania we anticipate 50,000 high quality visitors, with revenue of 146.5 million Australian dollars,” Mr Nopparat concluded.

Visitors to AIME 2015 can learn more about TCEB’s special campaigns at stand A220, while meeting a range of Thailand’s leading business events entrepreneurs – from hotels to venues, destination management companies to Thai Airways International. While at the TCEB stand, visitors can discover about what makes Thailand a business events paradise with a special Destination Presentation on 24 Feb at 11:35-12:05, and on 25 Feb at 10:55-11:25. For an extra dose of unique Thai culture, catch the Thai performance on 24 Feb at 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00, and on 25 Feb at 10:30, 13:00 and 15:00.

As part of its commitment to engaging with the business events community, TCEB has also set up hosted buyers lounge for those who attend AIME, where visitors can enjoy refreshments and be wowed by a Thai cultural performance on 24 Feb at 13:00 and 25 Feb at 11:00.

Schedule of Destination Presentation and Thai Cultural Performance

# # #

About TCEB

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB takes the lead on behalf of the Thai government in the development and success of Thailand’s MICE sector. Established in 2004, TCEB works to drive growth, elevate quality standards and inspire creativity in the industry. TCEB offers a range of advisory services and attractive support packages to contribute to the success and productivity of business events held in Thailand. This includes global outreach to build collaboration across a global network of MICE players. TCEB strives to create new business opportunities and lay the foundations for long term, sustainable industry growth.

# # #

For more information, please contact

Corporate Communications Division, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)

Ms Arisara Thanuplang    Tel: +66 2 694 6095    Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr Pishnu Plaikaew Tel: +66 2 694 6000    Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th

Ms Kanokwan Kadeedang    Tel: +66 2 694 6006    Email: kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th

Ms Kwanchanok Otton    Tel: +66 2 694 6096    Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th