TCEB Showcases Eastern Region's Potential with Familiarization Trip to EEC

7 October 2024: TCEB organised a familiarization trip to highlight the potential of the Eastern region. The trip brought together representatives from government agencies, private sector, MICE entrepreneurs, and media to experience routes in the Eastern Economic Corridor area; Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong provinces. The aim was to raise awareness of Eastern MICE products and services which facilitate both domestic and international MICE events.

Mr. Puripan Bunnag, Senior Vice President of Thailand Convention and Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, stated that the Eastern MICE industry is located in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area, a high-potential investment area with continuous economic growth. This growth has led to an increase in tourists, businesspeople and investors. The development of the Eastern MICE industry will distribute prosperity and income to local communities, aligning with the 20-year MICE strategic plan and the national strategy for stability, prosperity, and sustainability.

“TCEB continues to drive the Eastern MICE industry. In the fiscal year 2023, there were 2,261 MICE events in the Eastern region, both domestic and international events, generating over 10,979 million baht in revenue,” said Mr. Puripan.

The fam trip was scheduled from 7 - 9 October 2024 under the theme “One More Step of a Prosperous EEC.” Over 30 representatives from government agencies, private sector, MICE entrepreneurs, and media participated in various activities in Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong. These activities highlighted the unique characteristics of the EEC area and provided valuable firsthand experiences. Participants explored the region’s infrastructure readiness, MICE event capabilities, and local MICE products and services.

Activities included visiting “Tang Seng Jua Saen Phudat,” a modern Chinese-style pastry shop designed by National Artist Chatree Ladalalitsakul, where participants learned about pastry making. They also visited “EEC Automation Park” at Burapha University to study the Model Line of Smart Factory, Automated Storage/Retrieval System, and Fabrication Laboratory.

Additionally, they participated in the “Mini EEC Fair 2024,” an important event for presenting information and business opportunities to both domestic and international investors. Key highlights of the event included a special lecture titled “EEC Opportunities: Investment Solution Towards Sustainable Locals” by Dr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the EEC, a panel discussion on “The Role of the Financial Sector in Supporting Investments in the EEC” featuring representatives from the Stock Exchange of Thailand and leading financial institutions, presentations on government incentives and support measures, and business matching sessions.

Moreover, they explored the “U-TAPAO Rayong-Pattaya International Airport” to assess its current and future capacity for accommodating users. The visit also included engaging activities at the “Ban Talay Noi Tourism Community,” where they experienced the local lifestyle of growing cockleburs, a native vegetable, and cooked a spicy cocklebur salad with community chefs. The journey continued to Wangchan Valley’s “Wangchan Forest Learning Center,” where PTT’s reforestation project on 1 million rai of land is exhibited.

The visit concluded with a tour to the “Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation” or EECi, a front-line scientific infrastructure in Thailand designed to facilitate the scaling up of research and innovation for bio-based industries, automation systems, and intelligent robotics, etc.