Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled a three-year roadmap for the country’s conventions industry. Covering 2021–2023, the roadmap outlines an array of action plans to attract more conventions to Thailand and elevate the country’s international profile.
It comprises three key strategies: To upgrade the Thailand’s conventions ecosystem through active lead generation and industry consultation; to upskill the industry with targeted developmental programmes; and to upstage Thailand in world conventions arena via international partnerships and global agenda conventions.
Nichapa Yoswee, Senior Vice President – Business, TCEB, said: “This roadmap reflects the shift in TCEB’s role from an industry supporter to a growth driver. It has been implemented with the partnership of Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thailand’s leading professional association for conventions.”
“Under the upgrade strategy, TCEB will engage the entire conventions ecosystem to address demand-side and supply-side capability and capacity. This means raising awareness and know-how among local associations for hosting conventions in Thailand and building up a network of highly skilled and highly connected conventions professionals, who are capable of managing the entire life-cycle of an event.”
On the demand side, TCEB has begun reaching out to local associations through a variety of initiatives such as ‘Local Association Development and Ambassador Programme’. On the supply side, TCEB has set up a conventions task force to explore innovative ways to reengineer Thailand’s conventions industry. The task force, structured as a think tank that meets every quarter, comprises representatives from academia as well as TICA’s convention experts, such as venues, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), and Professional Congress Organisers (PCO).
To complement the conceptual work undertaken by the task force, TCEB and TICA have also established teams of “Convention Connecters” to respond to market trends with greater agility.