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"Despite the global financial crisis and local political problems, the TCEB and operators will revise their strategies to strengthen and encourage Thailand to be the top destination for domestic and international MICE activities," president Natwut Amornvivat said yesterday.

The bureau will propose its strategy to the government, urging the public sector to support and promote Thailand as a major MICE host country.

The TCEB predicts its annual plan will drive MICE spending in the country up 10 per cent to more than Bt57 billion next year.

As part of its strategy, the TCEB will restore the confidence among MICE travellers. It will promote inbound business by offering special packages to all corporate groups planning a meeting here.

The organisation will stimulate the domestic market by dividing its marketing plan into three main concepts, covering familiarisation trips, business matching and market development in both the public and the private sectors.

The Cabinet will be asked to order government agencies to hold meetings between January and April and lower taxes for meetings and incentives held at domestic locations. A crisis-management centre is also needed in case of a political emergency.

The TCEB has prepared more than Bt550 million to implement the revival plan for the MICE industry, including Bt190 million to support the events-promotion plan. This is more specifically broken down into Bt159 million for advertising campaigns, Bt134 million for trade and roadshows and Bt70 million for domestic MICE events.

MICE visitors this year will total 636,000, bringing in revenue of Bt52 billion, said the TCEB. Next year will see a 10-per-cent increase in MICE visitors to about 699,600.