ID :
151193
Thu, 11/25/2010 - 12:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/151193
The shortlink copeid
THAILAND BANKS ON PATTAYA'S CHARM TO BOOST MICE INDUSTRY
PATTAYA, Nov 25 (Bernama) -- Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is banking on Pattaya, one of the country's tourist spots located 140km south-east of Bangkok, to boost its meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry.
Pattaya, famous for its long sandy beaches, hotel facilities, leisure activities and enhanced dining and entertainment choices, attracts a million visitors per year.
TCEB president, Akapol Sorasuchart, said the city's vibrant tourism market and its well-developed business event and hotel infrastructure, has made it an important driver for the future of MICE industry.
"The city has distinct advantages over other competing cities in Thailand as it offers beautiful surroundings. It is also convenient to travel to because it takes less than two-hour drive from Bangkok and 10 minutes from Pattaya's airport, U-Tapao," he told journalists from Asia and Europe during a familiarisation trip.
According to TCEB, the government agency responsible for promoting MICE industry, Pattaya has over 40,000 hotel rooms.
"The hotels provide services and facilities needed to organise meetings, conferences and incentives.
"Among them are international chains such as Sheraton Pattaya and Hard Rock Hotel to local hotels such as The Dusit Thani Pattaya and The Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
"Pattaya is also the first province to have state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre, the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), which has a gross indoor size of 4,851 sq metres, which is one of the facilities provided
by The Royal Cliff Beach Resort," it said.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort & PEACH deputy director of sales & marketing, Michael Swart, said the main participants were mainly from India, South Korea and Japan as well as China.
"The Europeans were slow in line with the financial crisis currently faced by certain European countries but the MICE travellers from Asia are less affected.
"We are strong in Asia as it is not much affected by the global financial crisis," he said.
Most of the companies who came to Pattaya for MICE were from medical, pharmaceutical and investment banking companies, he said.
He said the costs of organising meetings, exhibitions and convention events in Pattaya were competitive following the global economic slowdown.
"The costs were a lot more competitive unlike two years ago. Next year, they are expected to be stable," he said.
During the visit, journalists were given the opportunities to experience the traditional Thai spa treatment, go shopping as well as taste authentic Thai seafood cuisine besides visiting MICE venues.
Pattaya offers golf facilities for MICE travellers, shopping malls, go kart circuit, and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and Thai Village, a recreational park, mini zoo and orchid nursery as well as tradional dances and performances.
The trip is one of the programmes under the "Believe in Thailand"
marketing campaign launched in July this year to boost the country's business events industry.
Pattaya, famous for its long sandy beaches, hotel facilities, leisure activities and enhanced dining and entertainment choices, attracts a million visitors per year.
TCEB president, Akapol Sorasuchart, said the city's vibrant tourism market and its well-developed business event and hotel infrastructure, has made it an important driver for the future of MICE industry.
"The city has distinct advantages over other competing cities in Thailand as it offers beautiful surroundings. It is also convenient to travel to because it takes less than two-hour drive from Bangkok and 10 minutes from Pattaya's airport, U-Tapao," he told journalists from Asia and Europe during a familiarisation trip.
According to TCEB, the government agency responsible for promoting MICE industry, Pattaya has over 40,000 hotel rooms.
"The hotels provide services and facilities needed to organise meetings, conferences and incentives.
"Among them are international chains such as Sheraton Pattaya and Hard Rock Hotel to local hotels such as The Dusit Thani Pattaya and The Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
"Pattaya is also the first province to have state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre, the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), which has a gross indoor size of 4,851 sq metres, which is one of the facilities provided
by The Royal Cliff Beach Resort," it said.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort & PEACH deputy director of sales & marketing, Michael Swart, said the main participants were mainly from India, South Korea and Japan as well as China.
"The Europeans were slow in line with the financial crisis currently faced by certain European countries but the MICE travellers from Asia are less affected.
"We are strong in Asia as it is not much affected by the global financial crisis," he said.
Most of the companies who came to Pattaya for MICE were from medical, pharmaceutical and investment banking companies, he said.
He said the costs of organising meetings, exhibitions and convention events in Pattaya were competitive following the global economic slowdown.
"The costs were a lot more competitive unlike two years ago. Next year, they are expected to be stable," he said.
During the visit, journalists were given the opportunities to experience the traditional Thai spa treatment, go shopping as well as taste authentic Thai seafood cuisine besides visiting MICE venues.
Pattaya offers golf facilities for MICE travellers, shopping malls, go kart circuit, and Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and Thai Village, a recreational park, mini zoo and orchid nursery as well as tradional dances and performances.
The trip is one of the programmes under the "Believe in Thailand"
marketing campaign launched in July this year to boost the country's business events industry.
