Interview
TCEB: Asian guardian of a‘ trusted gateway’ to events
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau( TCEB) new president Dr Supawan Teerarat, tells EW about the bureau’ s vision for establishing Thailand as ASEAN ' s International Exhibition Gateway
midst the intense
A competition within the exhibition industry across ASEAN, Thailand is steadily advancing towards its position as‘ Global-Asia’ s Trusted Gateway.’ Driving this progress is TCEB, which plays a pivotal role in strengthening the industry through support, standard-setting, and fostering international collaboration. Under the leadership of its new president, Dr Supawan Teerarat, the bureau has set out a clear strategic direction, reinforcing Thailand’ s role as an ASEAN exhibition hub.
The international exhibition industry in Asia is expanding rapidly, and Thailand has emerged at the forefront as an ASEAN hub.
Recognised for its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and thriving business ecosystem, Thailand now hosts the highest number of international exhibitions in Southeast Asia and ranks fourth in Asia for exhibition space.
A notable milestone is the return of Gastech, one of the world’ s largest energy exhibitions. Securing such events requires not only venue readiness but also alignment with government policy and industry leadership. TCEB plays a central role in bridging policymakers, organisers, and the private sector to create the confidence global organisers seek.
“ Thailand’ s location at the heart of Southeast Asia makes us a natural hub for exhibitors across ASEAN
Above: Dr Supawan Teerarat
Left: THAIFEX ANUGA-ASIA 2025 and Asia,” says Dr Supawan, adding that, in the past year, TCEB supported more than 491 international and domestic exhibitions, drawing 22.4m MICE travellers and generating 101,119MB in revenue.
What sets Thailand apart is its complete exhibition ecosystem: world-class venues, efficient logistics, strong buyer-seller networks, and skilled professionals. High standards of security and hospitality have been proven time and again. Beyond infrastructure, TCEB also invests in talent development through training and certification, while initiatives such as MICE One Stop Service, MICE Lane, and visa facilitation have helped to ensure seamless business.
Thailand’ s exhibition portfolio spans diverse industries – from food and agriculture to manufacturing – and is now extending into new sectors such as design, attracting fresh audiences from neighbouring markets.
Global organisers are also strengthening their presence; for instance, RX has formed a joint venture with BITEC, signalling long-term confidence in Thailand’ s potential.
Backed by policy support, international co-operation, and industry partnerships, Thailand’ s exhibition sector continues to grow at 7 – 10 % annually.
With TCEB’ s continued support, the country reinforces its role not only as a meeting ground for organisers, but as a dynamic global hub where industries, governments, and exhibitors come together.
Positioning Thailand’ s exhibitions on the world stage is not merely about attracting international shows; it is about establishing an ecosystem that enables sustainable growth across the industry. Strategies focused on building partnerships, connecting the public and private sectors, and enhancing event standards are the key drivers that reinforce Thailand as the‘ Gateway of Trust’ for world-class exhibitions. EW www. exhibitionworld. co. uk Issue 5 2025 33