BANGKOK, 1 October 2019: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau is sugar-coating a meeting offer with a THB200,000 cash grant.
Named a “sustainable’ financial subsidy,” it will kick-in for meetings and incentive groups of at least 50 international delegates, who stay in the country for at least three nights.
They also have to meet at least two of TCEB’s criteria for sustainable event practices to be eligible for the subsidy.
TCEB places emphasis on seven ongoing sustainable practices at the heart of the ‘Meet Sustainable’ campaign. Organisers have to satisfy TCEB that they can adopt at least two practices.
In the pre-event stage, planners or organisers must publicise the event through digital media or an online platform. It is not clear if it requires full digital communications throughout the event and an absence of printed conference brochures, manuals and conference newspapers.
During the event, organisers must serve drinking water in a water flash and/or jug or large glass bottles, provide a reusable tumbler to participants. Plastic straws are prohibited.
The organiser must donate leftover food to non-profit organisations.
Venues must be certified for environmental and energy management.
Materials for venue decorations and equipment must be reused or re-purposed. There must be no use of fresh flowers or foam materials.
Souvenirs must be produced by a local community or made from environmental-friendly materials.
The event must use an electronic registration system and reusable badges.
Post-event, organisers must promote best practices, success and benefits from organising sustainable events to associated or related persons and public.
The criteria fail to identify whether the use of printed-paper brochures, programmes or conference dailies are prohibited. It also fails to identify if non-recyclable plastic items other than plastic bottles are banned during the event, such as plastic bags, wrappers, containers, coffee and teacups.
TCEB has in the past supported major travel trade shows that generate tons of paper waste and publish trade dailies that generates considerable waste with print runs in the thousands for potential audiences in the hundreds.
