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relationship for their business sectors . Recent research from the Tourism Authority of Thailand showed that , by May 2022 , the UK ranked second in the number of international arrivals to the country . First place went to European travellers , who account for 25 % of Thailand ’ s international arrivals .
Looking ahead When looking to the future , it seems that the Thai Government foresees other opportunities to expand collaboration between the two countries . In June , the Joint Economic and Trade Committee ( JETCO ) identified six areas to improve the economies , including agriculture , healthcare , food and beverages , digital , trade and investment , and finance . To these ends , both sides of the agreement have pledged to increase annual trade to the pre-pandemic level of about £ 5bn ( US $ 5.7bn ). To the ambassador , the global exhibition industry is crucial to meeting this target due to its ability to stimulate economic growth . To that end , TCEB estimates that MICE visitors to the country will increase from 130,000 in 2022 to 250,000 in 2023 – an increase of 95 %.
TCEB vice-president Nichapa Yoswee unveiled their ‘ Empowering Exhibition Economy ’ campaign – dubbed ‘ E3 ’ for short . Much like the Kensington evening , the E3 campaign ’ s goal is to develop international organisers ’ confidence in Thailand as a destination for exhibitions , in addition to showcasing its top venues ’ capabilities . The association demonstrated in their presentation that these venues are in no short supply – Bangkok alone has seven , with the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre ( QSNCC ) boasting a new renovation .
Outside of the city , the nation has six additional venues bringing the total to 13 - not including Aerotropolis , an upcoming venue .
Yoswee also delved into the key upcoming events in Thailand ’ s trade
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show calendar , spanning from 2023 up to 2028 . In its capacity as a national bidder the bureau has clearly been tireless in its mission to bring international exhibitions and events to the country : and it shows . In total , the country has 49 new shows in its current pipeline .
Upcoming events draw closely on heavy-hitting technology industries , such as aviation . Notably , two cornerstone events of this type to be held in the country include the Aviation , Logistics , and Infrastructure Week , to be held in anticipation of the 2027 Thailand International Airshow .
TCEB ’ s bidding has largely focused on 12 target sectors including electric and autonomous vehicles , energy , digital , and sustainable industries in line with Thailand ’ s BCG economic model . Shows in the bidding pipeline include the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2025 and the Asia CEO Summit 2025 .
New programmes Several programmes were unveiled at the evening – all designed to encourage business between international exhibition markets and Thailand , and work towards a progressive development for the country ’ s industry . For TCEB , these programmes are designed to inevitably lead to ‘ ROE – Return on Everything ’ – benefitting the association , exhibitions in Thailand , and the international organisers who set roots there .
To further its mission of developing Thailand ’ s vital relationship with international exhibition organisers , TCEB announced the ‘ PEOs Empowerment : Powerful Subvention Programme ’. According to the association , the Programme ’ s goal is to support exhibition organisers by bringing in buyers from CLMV countries ( Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar , and Vietnam ), and also attracting show organisers to the Eastern Economic Corridor ( EEC ). This will be done by offering CLMV visitors incentives , and business and
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Above : TCEB networking dinner attendees
“ In its capacity
as a national
bidder , the
bureau has
clearly been
tireless in
its mission
to bring
international
exhibitions
and events to
the country :
and it shows .”
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government partnerships .
Also revealed at the embassy evening , TCEB ’ s ‘ MICE Alliance : Powerful Partnership ’ programme is designed to build networks and synergy among organisations as national policy makers , state agencies , and international corporations . Partnerships will include competitive sectors within the exhibition industry including tech , localisation , and airlines .
Thailand ’ s portfolio of new development programmes also addresses its commitment to sustainability . Yoswee detailed TCEB ’ s ‘ Carbon Neutral Events : Powerful Sustainability Programme ’, the primary function of which is to act as a MICE venue standard and guideline that promotes sustainable events , good environmental practices , and carbon footprint reduction .
A driver behind this programme is TCEB ’ s own set-in-stone sustainable target : for 2025 to be the ‘ Carbon Neutral Events Year ’ for all the association ’ s supported shows .
Withstanding the heat It was clear to attendees of the TCEB networking dinner that , when Covid-19 concerns and pandemic restrictions put heat on the exhibition industry , Thailand stayed in the frying pan and prepared for the future . As uncertain as that future may seem ( especially in events ), Thailand ’ s upcoming programmes and investment makes for a solid foundation from which to thrive .
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