MICE sector bounces back

       After the disastrous fallout from the brief closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport late last year, the MICE industry is rebounding with 378 international events held here this year generating more than Bt7.1 billion in revenue.
       And 76 events are committed from 2010-2014 worth Bt5.6 billion, according to a Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) report.
       Supawan Teerarat, TCEB's exhibition director and acting president, said yesterday the MICE (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) industry has contributed Bt278 billion to the country in the six years since the TCEB's inception.
       Highlighted international events for the next five years are the UNICITY Global Convention in 2010, the 38th annual meeting of the TunNelling and Underground Space Association, the World Pilot Association meeting in 2011, the Rotary annual meeting in 2012, the 25th Asian International Stamp Exhibition in 2010 and the World Stamp Exhibition in 2013.
       For the domestic market, the bureau this year is continuing with the "Meet in Thailand, Prosperous Thailand" project to help revive the economy.
       The campaign is aimed at promoting and supporting both the public and private sectors to organise meetings and seminars in the country, spreading income within the economic system.
       TCEB expects more than 8 million participants and Bt24 billion in revenue.
       TCEB is also developing some cities such as Phuket and Chiang Mai into MICE cities after succeeding in teaming up with Pattaya City to jointly develop marketing, infrastructure and human resources in preparation for the growing MICE market in the future.