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Published on November 29, 2007

 Barcelona, Spain

The first-ever memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Barcelona Convention Bureau (BCB) has been signed to boost their competitiveness in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry.

The MoU was announced yesterday at European Incentive and Business Travel and Meetings 2007, the largest premium trade show for the meetings and incentives industry. TCEB's president Natwut Amornvivat said the MICE industry in Thailand had been a rapidly growing sector, particularly the meetings and incentives (MI) market that grows by 20 to 25 per cent per year.

Thailand recorded about 270,000 MI visitors last year, an increase of 25 per cent year on year. Of that, most visitors came from Asia.

Therefore, both agencies expect to gain win-win benefits from a link that offers opportunities to exchange business opportunities and the training of staff.

Natwut said TCEB would be able to exchange information and contracts with BCB, which would help Thai operators to expand their customer base in Europe.

In addition, they would exchange staff at management level in order to develop their working processes, including learning about customers' demands in different regions.

"We expect this MoU will improve our organisation's efficiency and boost our MICE industry to be the regional leader as BCB is recognised as one of the best convention bureaus in the world," he said.

TCEB is also negotiating with Vienna Convention Bureau about signing a similar MoU to the one with BCB.

European countries are another interesting market for Thai MICE operators because their visitors have more spending power than Asian visitors.

Natwut said local operators must boost their awareness about "green" meetings and corporate social responsibility if they hoped to expand their customer base in Europe.

The green-meeting initiative is a three-year campaign to promote environmental responsibility in line with the robust growth of Thailand's MICE industry. The campaign will be launched in January.

Natwut said the industry must shift its focus to minimising waste and reusing or recycling materials in line with the global environmentally friendly trend.

TCEB will propose the Cabinet set MICE industry environmental standards, which are expected to be partly approved by the government.

Thailand expects to attract over 790,000 MICE visitors this year, up 18 per cent from last year. Revenue from international meetings and conventions in Thailand is projected to be more than US$1.6 billion (Bt51.2 billion) this year.

Chalida  Ekvitthayavechnukul

 The Nation