Friday, June 7, 2024 Thailand is positioning itself as the premier hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism in Southeast Asia and sees Vietnam as a vital partner in this endeavor. According to Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), there is significant potential for collaboration between the two countries in this growing sector. MICE Tourism on the Rise in Thailand After facing several years of challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand’s MICE tourism sector is experiencing a robust recovery.
In the first half of Thailand’s 2024 fiscal year (from October 2023 to March 2024), the country welcomed 636,694 foreign MICE tourists, achieving 78% of the total MICE tourist arrivals recorded in the entire 2023 fiscal year. This influx generated 36.72 billion baht (over US$1 billion), which is 72% of the total revenue from foreign MICE tourists in the previous fiscal year.
Vietnam’s Growing Role Vietnam has emerged as a significant source of MICE tourists for Thailand, ranking seventh in terms of visitor numbers with 20,446 arrivals in the first half of the fiscal year. Vietnam’s booming economy and its status as a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Southeast Asia underscore the growing demand for MICE-related services, technology, and business networks. Strategic Advantages and Initiatives Puripan highlighted the strategic advantages that make Thailand an att.
