TCEB Hosts TIME 2017 for the Second Consecutive Year Targeting India's MICE Market

Ms Nooch Homrossukhon, Director of Meetings and Incentives Department, TCEB revealed that Thailand's meetings and incentives (MI) sector is a major contributor to the MICE industry, delivering approximately 40 per cent of the industry's total revenue. During the 2016 fiscal year, Thailand welcomed a total of 1,273,465 MICE travelers, earning the Thai economy 102.936 billion baht, with the MI sector accounting for 522,039 travellers, and generating MICE revenue of 39.662 billion baht. India, the second highest source market following China, contributed more than 90,000 MICE travellers, generating more than 8 billion baht MICE revenue.

"Thailand has significant opportunities to welcome MICE travellers from India, who are also often repeat travellers. We foresee the highlighted and high potential target group from the Indian MICE market in the premium segment. The Thailand Incentives & Meeting Exchange or TIME is a key initiative of the Meetings and Incentives Department, which aims to provide an education and business opportunity platform for Thai MICE operators. The overall economic impact, and the numbers of MICE travellers and revenue from India as a source market - along with lucrative business opportunities in India - highlights the importance of increasing the competitiveness of Thai MICE operators. With such significance, this year's TIME platform will deep-dive into the Indian MICE market to enable our entrepreneurs to understand this market better, and to envision the potential of the mid-to high-end segment as well as the possibilities of new sectors. The information we share today will be able to help Thai MI operators to creatively plan their market strategies that meet the demands of the Indian market, while differentiating and creating added value for Thailand's MICE industry as a whole."

Held under the theme 'India In-depth', TIME 2017 comprises three key activities including the Knowledge Exchange – an education and competitiveness forum that helped Thai MICE operators to understand the Indian market better, consisting of  the overall MI market landscape  in India, the 'Understanding the Corporate Buying Power' panel discussion that shares information on the decisions of corporate buyers when choosing venues for meetings and incentives travel by representatives of leading multinational companies in high potential industries including the Health, wellness & biomedical technology sector (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Zimmer Biomet Ltd), Automotive (Goodyear India Ltd) and Banking and Finance (Bajaj Finance Ltd) as well as the 'Leveraging Connections and Conversations through Intermediary Relations' dialogue exchange among Thai and Indian destination management companies to help identify and co-create sales and marketing strategies that meet the demands of the Indian MICE market.

The Business Exchange featured a table-top session with 80 participants, which offering business opportunities and connected Thai MICE operators with meetings and incentives travel organisers from India, and representatives from alliance partners.

The Experience Exchange will bring together 41 Indian MICE agents and 6 international media to experience the Mega Familiarisation Trip to Chiang Mai, one of the Thailand's key MICE city, from 1 to 4 July 2017. An array of activities have been strategically designed to provide first-hand experience for participating target buyers from India, while helping increase sales opportunities for Thai MICE operators and showcasing the capabilities, readiness, and latest products and services that underline Chiang Mai's enchanting charm and unrivaled uniqueness. The 'Mantra of The Golden Land' Mega Familiarisation Trip comprises tailored activities targeting Indian customers including a 'Mantra of Chiang Mai' cultural field trip rally, a Business Showcase for MICE operators to present their capabilities for MI activities to potential buyers, an orchid planting CSR activity to help revitalize ecosystems, a team building activity to assemble bicycles to donate to a community school, umbrella painting, and weaving Thai traditional fish mobile (Pla-Tapian) and other fun-filled competitions that will see the highest scoring team win a special prize – a hot-air balloon tour over Chiang Mai. Other key highlight events include the 'Mantra of Lanna Heritage' reception party at the Royal Park Ratchaphruek, and the farewell party in the theme 'Mantra of Himanvanta', to express gratitude to valued partners which include Thai Airways International PCL, Thai Smile Airways Limited, and the Thai Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), for their strong support for TIME 2017.

As part of the marketing promotion for meetings and incentives travel in the 2017 Fiscal Year, Ms Nooch concluded that TCEB has put in place a range of financial and non-financial support campaigns for corporate customers, providing subsidies based on delegate group size, and types of activities, such as Thailand BIG Thanks, Meet Double Cities and Meet Sustainable Way.

About TCEB

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) - the government leading edge agency - has been the key to success for a wide range of global & regional business events since 2004. With our key strategic model, Growth Driver; TCEB works as your strategic business partner, delivers creative ideas, and provides solutions from our capable resources for every scale and various customised business events.

TCEB has formed numerous collaborations and networks linked to open up grand new chapters of business opportunities, and to strategically enhance every business success with special care that will spur lasting advancement and achievements. Our goal is to equipping business events industry at national, regional, and global stage for continuous development, long-term growth and sustainable success.

For further information, please contact: Corporate Communications Division, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)  

Ms Arisara Thanuplang
Tel: +66 2 694 6095
Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Ms Titiwanlaya Thaimongkolrat
Tel: +66 2 694 6103
Email: titiwanlaya_t@tceb.or.th

Ms Kwanchanok Otton
Tel: +66 2 694 6096
Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th

a publicist
Tel: +66 2 101 6860
Ms.Arpaporn (A) +6689 788 4868
Ms.Thittaya (Jang) +6694 323 5641
Mr.Sorasak (Earth) +6689 406 5544

SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

Related Links

http://www.tceb.or.th