Global Partnership: A Path to Success for Post-Pandemic Exhibitions

Global Partnership: A Path to Success for Post-Pandemic Exhibitions 

A scenario of continual recovery of Thailand economy is taking shape. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revealed that *the Thai economy in the first half of 2021 expanded by 2.0 percent, and is expected to grow in the range of 0.7–1.2 percent this year owing to a return to growth of export, private investment, private consumption plus the successful reopening : Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus and 7+7 Extension programs, which has generated **USD 55.72 million in revenue and welcomed 27,318 travelers, complemented with the reopening of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Pattaya in October. Furthermore, the country has continued to make significant progress in the vaccination of the country’s population now ***reaching 37.33 percent and at this rate, 70 percent of people could be vaccinated by 19 Dec. 2021. 

As such, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has formulated the MICE national strategies in line with the government’s national economic and social development plan, as well as urged Thai event organizers to lead the market and act global in order to gain more competitive edge and quickly recover in the post COVID-19. 

Mrs. Nichapa Yoswee, Senior Vice President of TCEB, stated that during the challenges of COVID-19, TCEB has been tapping into global opportunities, targeted on global scale exhibitions and focused on driving Thai exhibitions onto global arena. On top of the 23 international exhibitions that are in the 2022 pipeline, TCEB has co-created a world expo in Phuket, A1 horticulture expo and World Bank. Furthermore, at the ministerial level, the Thai Ministry of Public Health through TCEB’s initiative will host Thailand Health Expo in early 2022. TCEB has adopted Asia Convention Alliance to create regional convention rotation calendar and increase the convention rotation within Asia. In addition to the current 360-degree supports and schemes, TCEB has continuously investigated world market movement and insights in order to develop a more progressive subvention program for the industry. Exhibition organizers, on the other hand, should tap into international marketing opportunities by fostering collaboration and partnership with  world trade organizations as well as chambers of commerce to build more competitive advantage and revive after the COVID-19.

International-perspective wise, Mr. Mark Cochrane, UFI Regional Director of Asia-Pacific together with Dr. Bjoern Kempe, CEO and Founder of Expos Asia also share the optimistic view towards Thailand as top in Asia in the post COVID-19. Thai exhibition organizers, in the meantime, should focus on Thailand and CLMV markets while forging international partnership with management companies or international exhibition organizers to explore potential trade shows and geo-clone the successful international trade shows. Trade exhibitions and the sky in the United States of America and Europe especially Germany are re-open. Though digitalization is playing a major role during COVID-19, physical exhibitions and international trade shows still remain very strong and will be returning in the coming future. 

https://www.nesdc.go.th/nesdb_en/article_attach/article_file_20210816094822.pdf

as of 7 Sept 2021

https://www.mhesi.go.th/index.php/content_page/item/3547-share-of-people-who-received-at-least-one-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine.html

To empower Thai MICE, particularly exhibitions, TCEB is leading the market to attract as many international exhibitions as possible to Thailand, and developing more cities to be MICE-ready, creating new events in each region and standardizing event organizing. Besides, in partnership with professional associations, TCEB continues to upgrade industrialists’ skills and industry standards for the upcoming international exhibitions. 

Recently, on 19, 26 August and 2 September 2021, over 500 exhibition industrialists have been enriched and upskilled with industry knowledge and latest trends in the 3 webinar series hosted by Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) and supported by TCEB, as part of TCEB’s incubation program - “EO: Pro LEAGUE” project. In collaboration with leading international associations and government and private sectors, the incubation campaign itself will be officially kicked off by the end of September 2021 when renowned world exhibition gurus will be sharing global outlook and valuable insights for the exhibitions industry. 

According to NESDC, MICE in the post COVID-19 era remains to be a major economic driver, aimed to generate income in each region and making Thailand a destination of high-quality travel. NESDC and TCEB purpose to spur regional economies and MICE cities based on its potential and foundation, such as creative economy for the North, bio-farming for the Northeast, high-quality global tourism for the South, including the development of smart cities and, similar to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), special economic zones along the border areas.

In this regard, exhibition venues across the country especially in MICE cities have pro-actively worked together with TCEB to achieve Thailand MICE Venue Standard reflecting the country’s capability to provide hygiene, services and safety of high standards and ready for the world reopening for travel and trade exhibitions. Currently, 25 venues and 3 exhibition premises have been awarded Thailand MICE Venue Standard and ASEAN MICE Venue Standards, respectively.

For more information, please contact exhibitions@tceb.or.th.