Government expects MICE to drive economy

BANGKOK, Sept 11 (TNA) -- The government hopes tourism-related activities, especially meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), will continue to support economic growth. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak made the remark in the Thailand MICE Forum 2018 organized by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. The forum is an annual seminar of TCEB to update information on MICE operators. Businesses related to MICE visitors were growing steadily and the government was supporting the growth of tourism, Mr Somkid said. The deputy prime minister also said that the Thai economy was growing well on investors’ confidence, government investment and spending, and tourism. The growth rate of the Thailand’s gross domestic product proved so in the past two quarters, Mr Somkid said. He expected a faster economic growth rate next year. The government was trying to restructure the national economy by developing future industries in the Eastern Economic Corridor, planning a new railway to link three main airports and promote economic sectors including the agricultural sector which suffered low farm prices, Mr Somkid said. (TNA)