Thailand
business tourism on a national level.
Mr Phiphat Ratchakitprakar,
Minister of Tourism and Sports, added:
“The Government places great
importance on developing and
supporting the MICE and tourism
industries. It is the driving force of the
Thai economy to continue growing. We
will develop together, steadily and
sustainably.”
ICONs of industry
We spend a week in Thailand, split
between the capital Bangkok and Hua
Hin, on the western side of the country’s
horseshoe-shaped peninsula. Among
the most impressive of the venues we
are shown around is ICONSIAM, a
lavish shopping mall in Bangkok with
an under-construction MICE space on
the top floor.
The True Icon Hall, when it is
completed in November, will be a
3,000-capacity venue for conferences
and exhibitions, with retractable seats
that fold into the wall and an
LED-programmable ceiling. It will also
feature a breakout space sure to impress:
a large balcony with ranging views over
the Bangkok skyline.
Other spaces we are shown are a bit
closer to Earth. The Michelin-starred
Bo.lan restaurant in Bangkok is a
culinary attraction for international
delegates, and its food is as sustainable
as it is delicious. Head chef Bo
Songvisava (who featured on Netflix hit
Chef’s Table) guides us through a
workshop to highlight some of the
restaurant’s sustainable practices, as it
works to be completely waste-free.
Bo.lan prints its business cards on seed
paper, which it creates by pressing the
pulp of its used meal receipts.
Unfortunately, CMW’s paper-making
skills don’t quite match our appetite.
Elsewhere, we pay a visit to the
Chaipattana Foundation in Hua Hin,
where sustainable development is also
on the agenda. Here we learn about the
late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s idea of
the ‘sufficiency economy’, which asked
the Thai people to make do with what
they have, and to respect the land. His
message was that Thailand’s
development must not leave behind
those who are least privileged – it must
be steady, and sustainable.
Trust in TCEB
TCEB offers support with financing and organising
international events - more information is available
online at businesseventsthailand.com. The country is
also playing host to the UFI Congress in November,
when it will welcome key figures in the international
exhibitions industry. The theme will be ‘Platforms of
Trust’, focusing on the importance of networking,
negotiating and closing deals.
Keeping an eye
on the road
This is all aligned to the message which
TCEB, and the Thai Government, are
sending with regards to the country’s
MICE industry. Thailand has a varied
offer which includes culture, food,
history and business – as well as a
forward-thinking mentality when it
comes to selling these commodities to
the international market. On top of this,
it offers good value for money when
compared to many of the other regional
leaders, such as Singapore and Hong
Kong.
But as the MICE industry fuels its
continuing economic growth, Thailand
is also making sure that it doesn’t lose
touch with sustainable practices, and
leave its upwardly mobile citizens in the
rear-view mirror.
Above:
International
media on the
terrace of
ICONSIAM
Left:
At the Thailand
MICE Forum in
Bangkok
ISSUE 103
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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