The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported that the number of foreign tourists visiting the country in 2009 was 14.09 million with a total income of 527 billion baht. With the target of attracting 15.5 million foreign tourists in 2010, the Government of Thailand has adopted seven stimulus measures, including visa fee exemption for foreign tourists and free-of-charge riot protection insurance worth US$10,000 for each foreign tourist
Tourism is one of key economic sectors in Thailand - a market of 64 million consumers and a destination for 13 million international visitors, accounting for 6 % of the GDP.
However, a political turmoil starting in February and peaking in May 2010 has dealt a blow on the Thai tourism industry. Foreign traveller arrivals have fallen 16 % so far this year, while hotel occupancy across the country has dropped to 44 %, down from 66 % last year. Luxury hotels in Bangkok have even lower occupancy rates, below 40 %.
Mr Kongrit Hiranyakit, head of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said: “I don't see any positive factors. Oil prices are increasing, influenza is spreading all over the world. Political protests are bad for the country's image.” He expected the tourism industry will lose about 200 billion baht (US$5.5 billion), down by more than a third from about 540 billion baht last year.
The Government of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have adopted many measures to restore the image of the country and regain the trust of foreign visitors. One of the focuses is to restore and develop MICE tourism (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition). Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is a public organisation established by Royal Decree published in the Royal Gazette on September 28, 2002. TCEB has been in operation since 2004. TCEB's main objectives are to promote meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions, known by the acronym "MICE", and to strongly develop this collective industry in order to make Thailand a regional hub for MICE events.
To revitalize the Thai exhibitions industry and restore confidence among exhibition delegates worldwide, TCEB offers maximum benefits to all exhibition delegates under the ‘Thailand Extra Value’ campaign. This is the market promotion programme themed "Optimising utility." The programme aims to provide support for MICE travellers, organisers, exhibitors, delegates and visitors. For exhibitors and visitors, TCEB launched the programme “Extra Night, Extra Smile” aimed at increasing the value and benefit for international exhibitions and attract visitors to Thailand. The programme offers the third free night for visitors staying more than two days in Thailand.
Mrs Supawan Teerarat, Director of TCEB, said: “Thailand’s GDP growth is forecast to reach 4.5 % this year, an increase from its 3.5 % forecast last December. This still reflects the strong confidence that the world has in Thailand as a globally preferred exhibition destination, and confirms that the country is still at top in ASEAN. Exhibitions taking place in this June are an opportunity for Thailand to restore its image. Recent riots will not affect exhibition events in Thailand. This is proven by the large number of participants in Propak Asia 2010 and Asian Paper 2010 exhibitions.”
In June 2010, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in MICE industry. This activity is one of results of the official visit by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to the World Economic Forum on East Asia recently held in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a preparatory step for the establishment of long-term strategic partnership in order to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the MICE industry and facilitate the mutual development of exhibition industry.
Quang Dai
Vietnamese
