TCEB HOLDS FIRST INT’L FAM TRIP IN 2 YEARS EXPECTING TO DRAW OVER 1,900 MB OF REVENUE INTO THAILAND

11 April 2022: TCEB holds the first FAM trip for foreign delegates in two years, responding to the government’s easing of country reopening measures. The trip attracted 43 MICE entrepreneurs from 14 countries and 1 special administrative region making inspection of MICE venues and attractions in Bangkok and Phuket. The trip produced 57 leads, which can generate estimated revenue of 1,901.34 million baht. Foreign delegates praised the quality, standard and flexibility of services and diversity of routes and MICE activities as Thailand’s strong advantages for holding MICE events. 

                        editor image  editor image 

            Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, stated that in response to the expected Thai government’s more relaxation of country reopening measures, TCEB has taken swift promotional acts in international markets, capturing both market with speedy recovery outlook in the short term, meeting and incentive sector, and long-term planning market, convention sector. During 26 March to 1 April, TCEB held the 2022 Thailand MICE Familiarization Trip for the first time in two years featuring Bangkok – Phuket route. The trip attracted MICE agents, event planners, meeting planners, corporate users and professional conference organisers or PCOs, totalling 43 delegates from 15 destinations - Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, UK and USA.  

editor image

            “The FAM trip aims to provide international delegates with direct experiences on the readiness and potential of Thailand in terms of meeting venues, accommodation, variety of activity options, access to facilities and hygiene and safety practices. These will assure foreign participants that selecting Thailand as their MICE destination can promise successful results and memorable impression for clients.”     

editor image

            On top of that, the trip also prioritised sustainable event management to meet the global calls. All 7-day activities and the farewell night party under the theme The Embrace of Thai Night were able to reduce the emission of CO2 by 6,603.19 kgCO2e, which equals to planting 400 trees. Moreover, materials used in the farewell night party shall be reused in other events. 

      editor imageeditor image

            Through the meetings with Thai suppliers, which included international convention centres and hotels, convention segment generated 6 leads, 14,600 travellers and estimated revenue of 919,800,000 baht of revenue. Meeting and incentive segment generated 51 leads, 15,580 travellers and estimated revenue of 981,540,000 million baht. The sum total of revenue is 1,901,340,000 baht. 

            After the inspection trip and meeting with Thai suppliers, overseas put into spotlight the standards, quality, flexibility and client-centric service delivery, variety of choice and culinary as Thailand’s strong advantages in serving international MICE events. 

editor image
            Mr. Werner Van Cleemputte, Owner of Medicongress – a Belgium-based Professional Conference Organiser – PCO, said that “Over the last four days of FAM trip, we have been impressed by an immense evolvement that Bangkok has made. We have seen the standard on an international level for conferences. Thailand is unique. I should say the flexibility of people you work with. Also, the technology that is available. We have seen hybrid meetings and the spirit that you have here makes everybody want to come to real conferences and meet each other in person again.”

            Ms. Alexandra Goodsell, Head of Customer Success, Power2Motivate – an Australian Event Planner, mentioned that “Joining in this fam trip definitely tells me that it’s so much more than just incentives inspective. No wonder why Thailand is among the most distinctive options, because there are products that respond to several types of MICE travellers. Hotel quality and food standard have been raised. There are a lot more hotel products and MICE venues available. Leisure destinations are really good options for MICE travellers. I would say young demographic, and maybe tech company.”

            Mr. Mark Cochrane, Regional Director Asia-Pacific of UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry), disclosed that, “During the pandemic, we have seen the endeavour of Thailand in the improvement of service. Event organisers had to put in place new processes to get through problems caused by the COVID-19. Now, Thailand has emphasised more in customer-oriented services, such as Thailand Pass that is considered the expansion Thailand’s strengths in efficient servicing. This has been beneficial to event organisers, which is really the core to any successful exhibitions.”

    editor imageeditor image

            Mr. Chiruit concluded that “These have affirmed us that through the past two years that we have encountered the COVID-19 pandemic, TCEB has never ceased to evolve in hopes to prepare Thailand for the return of foreign MICE markets. Still, Thailand has continued to receive trustworthiness from international countries when it comes to selecting their MICE destination. Feedbacks from participants of this FAM trip reflect their perspectives that Thailand has the potential to bring successful results to global events as desired.”  

#####

For further information, please contact: Corporate Image and Communication Department 

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)  

Ms. Parichat Svetasreni    Director  Tel: + 662 694 6000 Email: parichat_s@tceb.or.th

Ms. Ananta Leekasem Senior Manager    Tel: + 662 694 6000 Email: ananta_l@tceb.or.th

Ms. Kwanchanok Otton     Manager       Tel: + 662 694 6000 Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th

Visage Company

Ms. Yuphaporn Lertsattakit         Tel: + 662 616 6749- 50


Share articles