MoUs to strengthen events business

BANGKOK, 4 May 2012:  Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau signed Memorandum of Understandings with four association partners, Wednesday, claiming it would improve competitiveness.

TCEB inked  MoUs with Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association; Thailand Exhibition Association, and Convention Promotion Fund to build a network of strategic partners to increase professional skills and competencies.

TCEB board member and acting president, Thongchai Sridama, said it would build awareness and understanding of ASEAN’s regulatory landscape.

“Human resource is an essential factor to compete…the bureau therefore needs to build professionalism.”

There are four main agreements under the MoU framework. They are:

• Join together to define a human resources development plan for the four main MICE subgroups –convention and exhibition centre venues; hotel industry; event organisers; and service providers (contractors and logistics);

• Develop a specialist English-language curriculum for MICE professionals;

• Partner to host training and seminar programme to strengthen MICE industry knowledge ;

• Collaborate in publicising activities that will help the industry maximise its potential within the ASEAN.

“The framework will be a MICE model, which begins at Bangkok and will be a roadmap for three other MICE cities Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya,” he said.

Mr Supol said “The tourism department must help to strengthen safety and security as well as raise quality and standards for tourism products and services before a single market kicks in by 2015.”

Thailand Incentive and Convention Association president, Sumet Sudasna, said the free trade era was a challenge for the country tourism operators especially the increase of foreign shareholders to 70%.

Mr Sumet suggested companies seek ASEAN partners to help the industry adapt to the forthcoming unified market.

Thailand Exhibition Association president, Pravit Sribanditmongkol, said the four agreements was part of a strategy that could encourage competency particularly for SMEs operators.

“Besides labour skills, MICE personnel need to improve language skills, not only English but also ASEAN languages such as Burmese and Vietnamese.”

Mr Pravit added: “Understanding ASEAN culture and business conditions is an urgent factor that Thailand MICE personnel must grasp.”

Thailand claims it is a  hub for the exhibition industry in the region as there are over 200,000 sq metres exhibition space nationwide and an average sold space of 400,000 sq metres a year. On average, the industry enjoys a 15% to 20% growth per year.

By 2015, following the creation of the AEC single market, TCEB estimates that Thailand’s MICE industry will grow by 28% with 958,320 overseas MICE visitors and generate Bt78,717 million in revenues.

This year, the bureau expects 750,000 MICE visitors to circulate Bt60,120 million compared to 720,000 visits that generated Bt57,600 million in 2011.