HCM CITY — The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has launched two schemes to promote meeting and incentive travel and exhibition visits to Thailand.

Nichapa Yoswee, the bureau’s senior vice president, business, said Việt Nam is a growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market for Thailand.

Last year the number of MICE travellers from Việt Nam to Thailand grew at a remarkable 109 per cent to 55,306, making it one of the fastest growing markets for Thailand, she said.

Thailand is a growing business destination, being a central exhibition platform in Southeast Asia, she said.

The development of Thailand’s business landscape has been benefiting the country’s MICE tourism market, the bureau said.

The Thailand 4.0 policy with the designation of 10 key industries as the new engine of economic growth is generating business opportunities, new products, new technologies, and new services for business travellers from Việt Nam to tap into, it said.

Exhibitions in the food and agribusiness, health and wellness and engineering and automotive sectors were among those that attracted a large number of overseas trade visitors and exhibitors to Thailand last year, it said.

Thailand constantly has new attractions, facilities and destinations that cater to MICE travellers, it said listing Mahanakhon Skywalk and ICONSIAM in Bangkok, flower festival Chiang Mai Bloom, Tribhumi Walk-Through Theme Park in Phuket, and Lux in Pattaya, the world’s first levitating theatre, it said.

Yoswee said, “Considering there is a good match between the two countries, Thailand can be a destination that can fulfil the expectations of Vietnamese business and corporate travellers.”

TCEB has designed new support schemes for MICE travel in Thailand which the Vietnamese business sector can benefit from, she said.

The ASEAN+6 Privilege Campaign is designed for business mission organisers (BMO) like chambers of commerce, trade associations, industry publications, and non-profit organisations.

BMOs are eligible for TCEB subsidies and accommodation incentives if they engage in business meetings at TCEB-supported trade shows in Thailand.

To qualify, delegations must include at least 10 persons hailing from the ASEAN+6 countries and commit to 30 meetings across the group. —VNS