Thailand expects RM9.7 bln income from biz travellers

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TOURISM REVENUE: Photo shows the skyline of Bangkok. TCEB is working to meet an expected 940,000 business travellers this year and rake in an income of RM9.7 billion or 88 billion baht. — AFP photo

KRABI: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is working to meet an expected 940,000 business travellers this year and rake in an income of RM9.7 billion or 88 billion baht.

Its director of Marketing and Corporate Image Department Parichat Svetasreni said last year, Thailand welcomed 895,224 business travellers, who contributed revenue of 79 billion baht.

She disclosed this during a media familiarisation trip organised by the TCEB to Krabi, the latest attraction for business travellers to the country.

Journalists from Thailand,Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, the UK, Hong Kong, the US and Russia were part of the familiarisation trip from June 12 to 23.

Last year, Thailand organised 7,382 business events and 33 per cent of it was conventions, 25 per cent corporate meetings, 24 per cent incentives and exhibition 18 per cent, Parichat said.

She said most business travelllers to Thailand last year were from the Asian region, representing 65 per cent of the business travellers arrival, followed by Europe (11 per cent), US (six per cent), Oceania (four per cent) and other regions (14 per cent).

To achieve the set target for this year, TCEB, the Thai’s government agency charged with promoting the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, is in the process of repackaging its strategies and promotion.

The agency had previously projected destinations like Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai for MICE activities, as these places have their own distinctive attractions.

With Krabi joining the other destinations for MICE activities, it would provide more options for business travellers.

Krabi is located along the coast of the Andaman Sea and famous with its clear, turquoise sea, sandy beaches, and limestone cliffs.

“TCEB’s promotion of Krabi to business travellers has been tagged, ‘The Adventure MICE of the Andaman’, as its natural wonders offer a variety of activities like rock climbing, island hoping, canoeing and corporate social responsibility programmes like protecting corals,” said Parichat.

She also said most hotels in Krabi were resorts, along with a number of bungalows, but the hospitality landscape in the province is rapidly changing with the addition of international and local hotel chains like the Sheraton, Sofitel, The Ritz Carlton, the Amari and Centara.

Major hotels in Krabi are mostly suitable for small and medium sized corporate groups and a maximum of 500 delegates.

Krabi is served by Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, Thai Air Asia, Thai Smile, Tiger Airways and Krabi Airline. — Bernama