Bangkok--4 Sep--JWT Public Relations “MICE in Green: the North”, aiming to actively tap the tourism market and the MICE industry in the Northern region during the low season with the strong confidence of achieving target for the off-peak period Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) teams up with Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Council of Thailand and International Convention Association (Thai) to launch the latest project, MICE in Green: the North, to drive sales in the tourism market and the MICE industry during the off-peak period from May to October 2007. Activities include a business conference to showcase the country’s superior capacity in accommodation by 80 hotel and travel business entrepreneurs and targeted at 100 corporate buyers, and holding seminar during September 7-9, 2007. The ‘MICE in Green: the North’ project consists of two parts. First, the business conference in Chiangmai held as a ‘Table Top’ to promote business between 80 tourism entrepreneurs in 17 provinces and 100 corporate buyers. At the conference, travel business entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase a wide variety of tourism products and services such as corporate accommodation, venues for conferences, seminars and exhibitions, seminar and conference organizers, travel agents for the MICE industry promoting unique travel destinations and other related products. The conference will help to promote the meetings & incentives market to host conferences, seminars and encourage travel in the Northern region greatly. Second is the ‘Post Tour’ to survey various facilities for the MICE industry in Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Lampang and Lampoon. These provinces are packed with amazing tourist attractions, outstanding accommodation and other facilities that best serve the needs of the MICE industry and provide strong incentives for organising a conference in the Northern region. The Post Tour, consists of 3 routes focusing on the visit to the ‘Royal Initiative Discovery’ projects, aims to bring local and foreign visitors to experience the magnificent attractions and several ‘Royal Initiative Projects’ in the Northern region, for instance, Ang-Kang Royal Agriculture Station, Royal Inthanond Project, Doi Tung Development Project, Mae-Fah Laung Farm and Thai Elephants Preservation Centre. M.R. Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of the Board, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), disclosed that “Overall, the Meetings & Incentives market has been growing rapidly at a constant rate of 20% - 25% every year and the Northern region segment is estimated at 1,900 million Baht, or 5% of the total market value. The market consists of 80% local tourists and 20% foreign visitors and can be divided into 2 periods: high season (November to April) and low season (May to October). TCEB foresees huge potential during the off-peak season and has collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Tourism Council of Thailand and the International Convention Association (Thai) to launch the “MICE in Green: the North” project from 7-9 September, 2007 to promote and stimulate the market for meetings and incentives in the Northern region in order to generate sales across the region throughout the year.” “It is expected that the “MICE in Green: the North” will increase spending and the circulation of money in the nation’s economy. It will create new jobs and generate income for people and entrepreneurs in related-business in the region, as well as increase business opportunities to serve the MICE industry. The project will be a centre for business contacts between buyers and sellers, and will promote the popularity of 17 provinces in the Northern region as a MICE destination, resulting in the MICE market becoming active again during the rainy season.” Mr.Jamlong Ratanapan, Executive Director Northern Region of Tourism Authority of Thailand added that “According to TAT’s target for the domestic tourism market in 2007, it is estimated that 82 million local visitors will travel within the country and generate the revenue of 377,800 million Baht. To serve the needs of the MICE industry, the Northern region has unmatched capacity in terms of venues and facilities to host a conference. Surrounded by breathtaking attractions, extraordinary culture, heritage and convenient infrastructure, the upper Northern region is undoubtedly an ideal destination for incentives travel. The lower Northern region is outstanding for eco-tourism, adventure and history, making it a perfect destination for team building activities, team party and incentives travelling. In 2008, the Northern region will have more interesting tourism projects such as Travelling by Car, Fly and Drive, One Travel Pass for Northern Provinces, Youth Travelling, Green Study Room etc. TAT expects that the number of Thai tourists will increase in the year 2007 by 1.23% to 83 million persons along with an 1.90% increase in revenue to 385,000 million Baht. In terms of on-going marketing activities to support the MICE industry, TAT will provide useful information about facilities in the Northern region that perfectly serve a variety of MICE activities via the MICE Directory to encourage decisions for organizing MICE activities in the Northern region. Mrs. Yaowalak Pangsabha, Senior Deputy Chairman of Tourism Council of Thailand, further commented about the role to encourage hotel and travel business entrepreneurs in the Northern region that “We are actively cooperating with these entrepreneurs to ensure the region’s capacity and to promote a good image of tourist attractions for the development of sustainable tourism through seminars and training with the aim of increasing the capacity of small-sized to large-sized business entrepreneurs. We have organised several seminars for corporate tourism entrepreneurs and related personnel to have a better understanding of integrated tourism and efficiency in tourism business management. We have also undertaken the project to promote unique attractions in certain areas such as art, culture, tradition, tourist attractions, historical venues and environment by designing a logo for each area in order to promote the area more effectively. Our activity also includes the development of a marketing plan to encourage and increase the number of foreign visitors travelling to Thailand. Overall, hotels and travel business entrepreneurs, particularly those in Chiangmai and Chiangrai, have demonstrated significant capacity improvement in management administration and services that reach international standards. Another major change can be seen in the new unique accommodation design, for instance, boutique hotels, hip hotels, luxury hotels and much more. Mr. Opas Nepraumpai, Chairman of Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) disclosed regarding the capacity of conference and exhibition venues that “We have provided continuous support for the tourism market and the domestic MICE industry through the overseeing and development of marketing activities in order to promote the growth of the market, to increase the competitive advantages and to promote Thailand’s MICE industry at international levels. This includes the use of special promotional campaigns as an incentive for government and private corporations including state enterprises, particularly the provincial management units and sub-provincial management units which focus on organising events and promotional activities to stimulate the meetings & incentives market to travel and host conferences in Thailand through the set-up of information and service centres. At present, the Northern region has developed several plans to improve the venue capacity for conferences and exhibitions in order to support the expanding tourism market for instance Khong River Centre of Air Freight Transportation and Logistics Project, Chiangmai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Construction Project and the construction of 2 large convention centres by private corporation, i.e. Empress Convention Centre (ECC) and North — Chiang Mai Convention Centre (NCCC), including the launch of 9 five-star hotels with a combined capacity of 1,658 guest rooms etc. For more information, please contact: Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau Khun Parichat Svetasreni Tel: 662 694 6000 Ext. 6091 Mobile: 6681 840 4701 E-mail: [email protected] Khun Arisara Thanuplaeng Tel: 662 694 6000 Ext. 6092 Mobile: 6681 561 4745 E-mail: [email protected] JWT (Thailand), JWT Public Relations Khun Wongchan Tangsongsak Tel: 662 204 8221 Mobile: 6689 127 2089 E-mail: [email protected] Khun Prasit Kritsadaariyachon Tel: 662 204 8216 Mobile: 661 586 2813 E-mail: [email protected]