THAILAND’S Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) recently launched a road show to bring to the UAE’s business community the country’s unique attractions and value as a destination for the meetings and incentives industry.
Headed by Puripan Bunnag, senior manager of meetings and incentives for the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, the event held at The Palace Hotel was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the consulant general of Thailand, Thai Airways, Dusit International, Sheraton Grand Phuket and two Leading DMCs.
Bunnag said, “The meetings industry for Thailand is doing very well. The industry finished 15 per cent over their last fiscal year and the first quarter of 2009 has seen a 20 per cent growth on the same time as last year”.
Their strategy is to focus on road shows as well as meeting and incentive exhibitions around the globe. He said that they worked closely with TAT in promoting this sector of the tourism industry.
The TAT assistant Yanyong Nopphakhun added that that tourism arrivals from the UAE were at 100,000, up 20 per cent, with Dubai being the biggest contributor compared to any other single city. In fact, the entire Middle East was up eight per cent.
TAT was predicting that even with the current ecomonic situation, there would be a 3.5 to 5 per cent growth overall.
Thai Airways highlighted their four class service, although premium economy is not available in the Middle East, and that a new aircraft will be coming on board on July 16.
Dusit International celebrated 60 years, and now boasts 17 hotels in Thailand and four international properties. In 10 years they hope to bring the number of properties up to 60.