The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) organised for a group of representatives from the intenrational media, roundtable sessions with top level executives from the government of the country; and the private sector which began from March 24 to 26. As stated by Mr Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB, the sessions were held, to discuss on MICE issues in Thailand and to boost international confidence in Thailand’s MICE industry.

It began with Mrs Supawan Teerarat, vice president of TCEB who briefed the media on the initiatives taken by the bureau to promote the country’s MICE brand ‘Thailand CONNECT The World’ after a dinner of Thai cuisine on board a river cruise boat, and with a speech by the president.

High powered discussion was held with the Mr Sek Wannamethee, director-general of the Department of Information and spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He spoke on Thailand’s MICE industry as one of the drivers of the country’s economic growth; the government’s foreign affairs policies and action plans to support the MICE industry; the country’s readiness for the ASEAN economic integration; and the political stability and its impact on the development of the country’s economy and MICE industry.

Meetings were also held with Mr Vichai Assarasakon, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce of Board of Trade Thailand and Mr Thanate Vorsaran, board member of Tourism Authority of Thailand on the strategy of collaboration between public and private sectors on promoting MICE through key industries. The session closed with an update on the status of the tourism industry in Thailand by Mrs Pornthip Hirunkate, vice president of international marketing of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

The publisher and editorial board of MICE in Asia would like to thank TCEB for inviting its managing editor to the roundtable sessions.