Chiang Mai (Thailand) – July 4, 2019 (travelindex.com) – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is working with the province of Chiang Mai and its private sector to showcase “MICE events in the rain” and highlight the creative ideas, unique cultural heritage and modern facilities of the city during Thailand’s annual rainy season.

Mr. Chiruit Isarangun Na Ayuthaya, President of the TCEB, said that the TCEB was using Chiang Mai's status as one of Thailand's five designated MICE cities to attract more conference business to Northern Thailand.

“TCEB’s efforts to promote Chiang Mai, together with its public and private sector partners, are bearing fruit. The number of ICCA-supported international conferences in Chiang Mai has increased dramatically since the opening of the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC) in 2013. From just 10 events in 2013 to 21 events in 2017 and 25 events in 2018, this represents a growth of over 250% in five years,” said Mr. Chiruit.

Thailand hosted 193 ICCA-certified international events in 2018. Chiang Mai alone hosted 25 of these, representing 12.95% of the total. This placed Chiang Mai second only to Bangkok in terms of the number of ICCA-certified events. In the 2018 ICCA rankings, Chiang Mai also improved its position to 25th in Asia (2017: 27th) and 110th worldwide (2017: 130th). Furthermore, Chiang Mai was the seventh-largest city in the ASEAN region in terms of the number of congresses held in 2018.

Three of the ten bids supported by the TCEB and won in the first half of fiscal year 2019 confirm Chiang Mai as the host city. These include Routes Asia 2020 with 1,000 international and 500 local delegates, the Association for Women's Rights in Development Forum 2020 with 2,000 international and 200 local delegates, and the 14th Asian Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Meeting (ASCA 2021) with 400 international and 600 local delegates.

Mr. Chiruit added: “TCEB presents MICE events in the rain. As a partner and collaborator, this allows us to flexibly develop ideas and programs to encourage MICE groups to visit Chiang Mai during the rainy season. The city’s diverse resources, combining modern facilities with creative ideas and a unique culture, can redefine the business experience for MICE travelers. This has been demonstrated to the media through activities in the Patan and Long Him Kao communities as part of our collaboration with Chiang Mai Province.”

According to Komson Suwanampa, Vice Governor of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai recorded 2.6 million visitors in 2018, including 2 million from China. This is attributed to more than 200 direct domestic and regional flights operated by 26 airlines, bringing an average of 40,000 visitors to the city each day.

“In addition to its excellent transport connections via air, rail, and road networks, Chiang Mai boasts a number of state-of-the-art event venues, including the CMECC with a capacity of over 10,000 conference attendees. Furthermore, there are several five-star hotels with sufficient rooms to accommodate MICE travelers year-round, particularly during the off-season,” said Mr. Komson. “The development of the MICE sector is part of Chiang Mai’s overall tourism strategy and requires the cooperation of all stakeholders in the public and private sectors to boost tourism.”

Ms. La-iad Bungsrithong, President of the Northern Section of the Hotel Association of Thailand, added: “Chiang Mai is home to several TCEB-accredited venues meeting the Thai MICE Standard (TVMS), including 57 meeting rooms across 16 venues, a specialty event venue, and an exhibition hall. Furthermore, the city offers a wide range of venues, from hotels and meeting rooms with modern equipment to creative locations, as well as a diverse array of activities and attractions that can redefine the pre- and post-event business experience.”

In the future, TCEB will continue its partnership and collaboration with Chiang Mai Province within the framework of the “Thailand 7 MICE Magnificent Themes” project to develop new MICE routes and offer local partners unique selling points that appeal to international MICE travelers. The Lanna Expo 2019, currently taking place at the CMECC from June 28 to July 7, strengthens the city's position as a platform for promoting local arts and crafts while making a significant contribution to the economy of the northern region.

About TCEB: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has been the official government agency of Thailand since 2004, supporting, promoting, and developing global and regional business events (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions – MICE) in Thailand. As a strategic partner and authorized contact, TCEB works with companies and organizations to develop successful solutions for realizing MICE events of all sizes and types.