BANGKOK, Sept. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Thailand
Convention and Exhibition Bureau or
TCEB organises the ASEAN Conference on MICE in Collaboration
with UNWTO to enable a dialogue aimed at leveraging knowledge and
policy exchange, and driving regional ties towards the mutually
beneficial goal of accommodating MICE travellers from around the
globe. The bureau is also committed to the 10-Year ASEAN Tourism
Strategy (2016-2025) as a framework to enable sustainable growth,
and empower Thailand's position as
a high quality MICE destination.
Mr Nopparat
Maythaveekulchai, President of TCEB said that,
"Promotion of the Thai MICE industry in line with the 20-Year
National Strategic Plan (2017-2036) prioritises collaboration among
ASEAN member countries and world-leading organisations. Since 2015,
TCEB has become as affiliate member of the World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO) to establish connections and be part of a
global network, stimulating support for the MICE sector. For the
first time in Thailand, the ASEAN
Conference on MICE in Collaboration with UNWTO is being held as
part of the ASEAN strategy to provide a platform to help raise
awareness and showcase the important role the MICE industry plays
in the region among ASEAN leaders. The inaugural conference will
also provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and
experience, bridging connections and collaboration in ASEAN,
especially to improve the quality and standard of infrastructure
and facilities to accommodate the needs of MICE travellers from
around the globe, right here in Southeast
Asia. Additionally, the activity, which will draw more than
270 delegates from public and private organisations as well as MICE
operators from across the region, will help promote Thailand as a high quality MICE destination in
ASEAN."
Ms Wiparat Tharateerapab,
Director of Government and Corporate Affairs, TCEB, revealed that
the vision for The 10-Year ASEAN Tourism Strategy (2016-2025) is
"By 2025, ASEAN will be a quality tourism & MICE destination
offering a unique, diverse ASEAN experience, and will be committed
to responsible, sustainable, inclusive and balanced tourism
development, so as to contribute significantly to the socioeconomic
well-being of ASEAN people." To work towards the vision, TCEB has
equipped the Thai MICE industry with preparedness in two
directions:
1. To Enhance The Competitiveness of ASEAN As A Single
MICE Destination by 1) Intensifying Promotion And Marketing; 2)
Diversifying Tourism Products; 3)
Attracting MICE Investments; 4)
Raising Capacity and Capability of
Tourism Human Capital; 5) Implementing and Expanding ASEAN MICE Standards for Facilities,
Services And Destinations; 6) Implementing and Expanding Connectivity and Destination
Infrastructure; and 7) Enhancing
Travel Facilitation
2. To Ensure That ASEAN Tourism Is Sustainable And
Inclusive such as 1) Upgrading
Local Communities and Public-Private Sector Participation in the
Tourism Value Chain; 2) Ensuring
Safety and Security, Prioritizing
Protection and Management of Heritage Sites; and 3)
Increasing Responsiveness to
Environmental Protection and Climate Change.
For the first time in Thailand,
the ASEAN Conference on MICE in Collaboration with UNWTO is held as
part of the ASEAN strategy to provide a platform to help raise
awareness and showcase the important role the MICE industry plays
in the region among ASEAN leaders. The inaugural conference will
also provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and
experience, bridging connections and collaboration in ASEAN,
especially to improve the quality and standard of infrastructure
and facilities to accommodate the needs of MICE travellers from
around the globe, right here in Southeast
Asia. Additionally, the activity, which will draw more than
270 delegates from public and private organisations as well as MICE
operators from across the region, will help promote Thailand as a high quality MICE destination in
ASEAN.
"To drive the MICE sector, TCEB can be beneficial to the ASEAN
Strategy's regional direction of helping identify policy, targets,
and strategic directions in line with regional dynamism.
Previously, Thailand has worked
closely with the ASEAN MICE Working Group in a wide variety of
ways, but our proudest moment as a nation was at the
43rd Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in Manila, the Philippines, where the ASEAN MICE
Venue Standard, was included as part of the 10-Year ASEAN Tourism
Strategy, and Thailand was
appointed to help drive the standardisation. The ASEAN MICE Venue
Standard was developed out of the Thailand MICE Venue Standard,
which was the world's first standard dedicated to MICE venues.
Moreover, we are looking forward to collaborating to move ASEAN
MICE forward, ranging from marketing and promotions, to product and
service development, to capability building among MICE
professionals. ASEAN member countries have to work together to
achieve our mutual goals in each of these areas," Mr
Nopparat concluded.
As host of the World Tourism Day in Thailand on 27-28
September 2016, TCEB cordially invited a top executive from
the UNWTO, Mr Xu Jing, Regional
Director for Asia and the Pacific
to provide opening remarks, which underlined that the meetings
industry in the last several decades helped speed up growth of the
global tourism sector effectively, while stimulating the world
economy through job creation, revenue generation, and investments.
Moreover, the meetings industry also helped encourage travel all
year round, as well as foster opportunities for professional
networking and knowledge exchange.
Reflecting the fast-growing facets of the MICE industry in this
region, Mr Xu Jing also disclosed
that by 2018, ASEAN will be able to welcome more than 12 million
MICE visitors, out of a total of 119 million travellers from around
the globe. The ASEAN Conference also served as a platform to help
enable a dialogue aimed at leveraging knowledge and policy
exchange, and driving growth within the region. Additionally, the
UNWTO also plans to release the second edition of the Asia-Pacific
MICE Industry Report in the near future.
The ASEAN Conference on MICE in Collaboration with UNWTO is
scheduled for 28 September 2016, with
key attendants including Mr Xu Jing,
Regional Director for Asia and the
Pacific, UNWTO, and Mr Igor
Stefanovic, representative from UNWTO, who will be
presenting a special session on the Role of Accessibility towards
Competitive Advantage on MICE. Panel discussions with
well-respected speakers from Thailand and around the world will also be
held, including Dr Porametee Vimolsiri, Secretary-General of the
Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, Ms
Karen Bollinger, CEO of Melbourne
Convention Bureau, and Mrs Janet
Tan-Collis, President of Singapore Association of Convention
and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS).
For further information, please contact: Corporate
Communications Division,
Thailand Convention and
Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)
Ms Arisara
Thanuplang
|
Tel: + 662 694
6095
|
Email:
arisara_t@tceb.or.th
|
Ms Kanokwan
Kadeedang
|
Tel: + 662 694
6006
|
Email:
kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th
|
Ms Titiwanlaya
Thaimongkolrat
|
Tel: + 662 694
6103
|
Email:
titiwanlaya_t@tceb.or.th
|
Ms Kwanchanok
Otton
|
Tel: + 662 694
6096
|
Email:
kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th
|
Ms Paniyada
Mulalin
|
Tel: + 662 694
6091
|
Email:
paniyada_m@tceb.or.th
|
www.tceb.or.th
a publicist Tel: +662 101 6860
Ms.Thittaya (Jang) +6683 668 1112, Mr.Kosin
(Ton) +6681 566 2053, Mr.Sorasak
(Earth) +6689 406 5544
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SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau