TCEB Spurs Chiang Mai to Host “UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016” Propelling Thailand’s Service Sector through Exhibitions

January 15, 2016 / Chiang Mai – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau or TCEB has promoted Chiang Mai’s development of the service sector through exhibitions and underscored the city as a business gateway for the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) by collaborating with the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) to organise UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016 during February 25-26 this year. This regional seminar will help upraise the tradeshows as a platform for trading and investment, facilitate ‘stability’ to economic development and accelerate ‘prosperity’ to Chiang Mai’s trade and business sector.

Mrs. Jaruwan Suwannasat, Director of Exhibitions and Events Department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau or TCEB, stated, "In line with the government’s policies to shift Thailand ranging from grassroots concerns to urban and upper income priorities, and to turn the country to the ‘trading and service nation’, TCEB has sturdily stimulated the country’s service sector by fostering Thailand's exhibition industry as a platform to expand regional trade and investment. Beyond being marked as one of Thailand’s five MICE City, followed the plan, the bureau will spur Chiang Mai to become the trading hub and business gateway for the northern region linked to GMS market.”

In 2016, TCEB has endorsed Chiang Mai as the host city of the ‘UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016’, the second largest seminar held by UFI, which comprises hundreds of mem-ber organizations, both public and private, around the world. Thailand was successfully held this seminar in Bangkok 2010. To host this UFI Open Seminar in 2016 in Chiang Mai, the seminar will help encourage local business professionals, trade associations, and related organisations to recognise the imperative impact of the exhibition industry and help reap the sustainable growth of the city’s economy while expanding trading op-portunities for Chiang Mai which will eventually help establish the city as the trading gateway to the GMS Economic Corridors.

Mr. Pawin Chamniprasart, Chiang Mai Governor, expressed his confidence in the readiness and capacity of the province and said; “Chiang Mai is ready in every aspect as a MICE city, covering from the hotel sector, the tourism sector, convention centers, transportation, to the province’s unique culture. During the years, TCEB has driven force to embolden Chiang Mai to host a vast series of business events, ranging from corporate meeting, incentive trips, and international conferences. The upcoming regional seminar will not only demonstrate a great prospect for us to welcome both domestic and international business professionals in the exhibition industry, who will further promote our readiness and obtain the city’s opportunities for business expansions, especially in the service sector, but it will also arouse local business professionals and related organisations to be aware of the importance of the exhibition platform that will reap their business benefit. In addition, beyond our readiness in the development of the service sector, the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Center Commemorating His Majesty’s 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary is able to accommodate business events in every scale from national, regional to international events.”

“With the opportunity to host the UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016, we will support this regional seminar in every aspects, including the public relations, events facilitation, and promptly demonstrate Chiang Mai’s capacity and readiness to host business events, especially international tradeshows. We see the significance the exhibition industry and its imperative impact in boosting trading within the province. We would like to invite relevant associations, federations, and commerce chambers based in Chiang Mai to register and participate in UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016 and to invite Chiang Mai residents to welcome visitors with our Lanna charm.”

UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016 will be held on February 25-26, 2016 in Chiang Mai under the theme ‘Digital Disruption,’ which reflects the role and influence of marketing in the digital era as well as how it can meet needs and shape the way businesses within the international exhibition industry will be conducted in the future. At the seminar, a number of interesting topics will be discussed, such as “The Outlook of ASEAN Exhibition Market”, “Digital Trends Shaping Events,” “Assessing the Impact of Digital Disruption,” and “Mobile Marketing Trend.” Furthermore, the networking with event organisers and service providers within the exhibition industry across Asia will also benefit Thai entrepreneurs who are seeking future business expansion opportunities.

As a city’s gateway, Captain Visutr Chantana, General Manager of Chiang Mai International Airport, state the policy to facilitate the business travellers to Chiang Mai that, “Currently, a major domestic and international flight to Chiang Mai has vigorously expanded in respond to the expansion of international visitors to the city. Chiang Mai International Airports served to welcome more than 8 million passengers in 2015. Within this number, the passengers included the business travellers including corporate meetings, international conventions and tradeshows. In addition, Chiang Mai International Airport has served to welcome the ministerial level passengers who visited for business events in Chiang Mai such as The International Network for Water and Ecosystem in Paddy Field (INWEPF). This will ensure the utmost service and facilitation to the delegates of this UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016. We will extend our fully support and is expect to demonstrate the capacity and readiness of the Chiang Mai International Airport of which will further help develop and expand trade and investment in accordance with the government’s policy

As the host of UFI Open Seminar in Asia 2016, to be held during February 25-26, 2016 at Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, TCEB will provide the seminar’s delegates to experience Chiang Mai with province’s tourist attractions and culture, both during and after the seminar. TCEB hopes that this seminar will highlight the importance of exhibitions in other provinces and boost revenues for the business events industry both in Chiang Mai and Thailand. In addition, TCEB has projected that in the fiscal year 2016, the number of business travellers and generated revenues will increase by five percent, accumulated to a total of 1,060,000 business travellers and 92 billion baht of generated revenues, out of which 191,000 visitors are for the international exhibition market and generate a revenue of 15.65 billion baht. The number of exhibitions is accounted for 17 percent of the Thailand’s business events industry

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For additional information, please contact

Organization Communication Section, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Pub-lic Organization)

Ms. Arisara Thanuplang    Senior Manager    Tel: 02-694-6095    Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Ms. Kanokwan Kadeedang    Manager    Tel: 02-694-6006 Email: kanokwan_k@tceb.or.th

Ms. Kwanchanok Otton    Executive    Tel: 02-694-6096    Email: kwanchanok_o@tceb.or.th

Ms. Paniyada Mulalin    Executive    Tel: 02-694-6091    Email: paniyada_m@tceb.or.th