Revenue forecast cut by 30% for expo

By Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Published on September 18, 2008

Lack of confidence leads to lower advance bookings

The Thailand Exhibition Association (TEA) has low¬ered its spending forecast 3040 per cent for the current Food and Hotel Thailand 2008 event to between Bt4 billion and Bt5 billion.

Organisers had previously been expecting revenue to come in at least at last year's level of Bt7 billion.

The show is being held in Bangkok's Siam Paragon Hall until Saturday.

TEA president Patrapee Chinachote said advance registrations had plunged 20 per cent from last year to 20,00030,000. Meanwhile, many exhibitors have downsized their space bookings at the show due to a lack of confidence about their business prospects.

"There have been big cancellations from Japan and South Korea, as well as other countries," said Patrapee.

He added that most AsiaPacific producers of airline inflight food products had withdrawn from this year's event, as they had already participated in a similar trade show early this year.

Patapee estimated that 20 per cent of the exhibitions scheduled for Thailand this year had been can¬celled following the state of emer¬gency declared on September 2.

The emergency, which only covered Bangkok, was lifted last Sunday.

Prakit Chinamourphong, presi¬dent of the Thai Hotels Association, said hotel occupancy rates had dropped sharply at all destinations.

Tourism business operators are not optimistic that the revocation of the emergency decree - which led to the issuing of travel warnings by 23 countries - will immediately revive the industry.

They are now pressuring the authorities to work harder in having the travel warnings revoked, so that new hotel and tour bookings can build up ahead of the high season.

With tourists and businessmen having cancelled trips to the Kingdom, the Tourism Council of Thailand estimates initial financial damage of between Bt50 billion and Bt60 billion, or 8 to 10 per cent of tar¬geted tourism revenue for the year.

Food & Hotel Thailand 2008 showcases products and technolo¬gies related to the food and beverage, hotel, restaurant, catering, hospital¬ity and service sectors.

More than 750 exhibitors are join¬ing the event, including Nestle, California Wine, Ocean Glass, Royal Porcelain, Bon Cafe Coffee, Electrolux, BVZ Fabrics, Micros Fidelio, Chubb and His Softbrand, as well as international groups from the United States, Japan and Australia. There is also a Halal Food Pavilion.

"Food and Hotel Thailand 2008 broadens the perspective of food and hospitality professionals as well as business operators regarding new products and technology that can be applied to raise the standard of their services," said Prakit.

David Aitken, general manager of fair organiser Bangkok Exhibition Services, said the show was an oppor¬tunity for Thai businesses to expand into the global market, as well as for raising the awareness of Thailand as a centre for the Asian hospitality business, especially in the restaurant and hotel segments.

One of the highlights is the 14th Culinary Gathering of Cooks and Chefs, in which chefs from renowned restaurants and hotels in Thailand and abroad will compete in creating original and appetising cuisine.

There will also be bartender com¬petition finals, an international wine contest organised by the Food and Beverage Association of Thailand and the world's biggest competition of wedding flower archway decora¬tions, organised by the Executive Housekeepers Club.

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Revenue forecast cut by 30% for expo

Lack of confidence leads to lower advance bookings

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