Visitor numbers have TCEB smiling.

Following a year in which it welcomed nearly 900,000 meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) visitors, Thailand has predicted that its MICE market will grow by 10-15 percent in 2013.

According to Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), around 940,000 MICE delegates will travel to the country this year, generating some 88 billion baht (US$2.83 billion) in revenue.

TCEB’s forecast comes after the launch of its new initiative ‘THAILAND: Connecting Asia’s Diversity of Dynamic Destinations’, which will look to boost business travel to the country by promoting its "world class events infrastructure and facilities, its variety of vibrant cities and its recreation for business events".  

Speaking at TCEB’s recent media familiarization trip, TCEB President Nopparat Maythaveekulchai said “as Asia continues to spiral upwards, Thailand is putting itself on the global map as a top ranked business event destination in the region”.

But “most importantly”, the TCEB boss said the strategy of appointing Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khonkan as the official business events cities of Thailand would further advance Thailand’s “preeminent place” among Asia’s MICE destinations.

“And of course drive the growth of business events in return,” he remarked.

In 2012, Thailand received 895,224 MICE delegates, responsible for 79.8 billion baht ($2.54 billion). Corporate events accounted for 9.49 percent of all tourism earnings in Thailand, or 0.58 percent of GDP. 

The “major driver” of growth for the nation’s MICE industry, Asia accounted for 65 percent of all business events in Thailand in 2012, with the top five source markets being India, China, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia.

Together with TCEB’s ‘Connections Plus 2013’, this year’s media familiarization trip attracted over 70 delegates from 16 countries.

Called ‘Adventure MICE of Andaman’, the event focused on the adventure destination of Krabi in the country’s south.    

Stay tuned to e-Travel Blackboard for more coverage from Bangkok and Krabi.