Published:  23:08 Saturday - March 17, 2012

On March 16, 2012, the ceremony of signing the cooperation agreement between Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) took place in Horison hotel Hanoi in order to enhance MICE tourism between the two countries

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Anuson Chinvanno, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand in Vietnam introduced the potentials of Thailand in MICE tourism development. MICE tourism includes four parts: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions. The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) takes an important role in supervising and supporting MICE tourism.

MICE tourism in Thailand has an annual average growth from 15% - 20%. The MICE tourism associated with meetings and incentives of international companies accounted for the highest rank (up to 41.1%), the meetings of international associations accounted for 36.9% and 22% is the contribution of international commercial exhibitions. In 2011, Thailand MICE tourism had a revenue of 55 billion baht ($1.75 billion) and it is expected to reach 57.6 billion baht ($1.84 billion) in 2012. Thailand is potential in MICE tourism development with 10 international standard convention centers equipped with modern infrastructure. Thailand has a system of 6 international airports and nearly completed railways network across the country’s length, which meet directly Con Minh – Singapore railway. Therefore, Thailand has an opportunity to become the North - South transportation center and West – East corridor of ASEAN region. In addition, Thailand is located in the center of ASEAN+6, which accounts for half of the world population (3,296 million people).

Thailand and Vietnam have good relationship for more than 30 years and signed nearly 30 treaties and agreements in different fields with each other. According to statistic in 2011, the commercial turn-over between the two countries increase by 25%, reached $9,086 million, in which exportation from Vietnam to Thailand increased 45%.

Vietnam is one of the dominant markets of Thailand in terms of MICE tourism, especially on exhibitions. In 2012, TCEB will enhance the potentials in meeting activities in Vietnam. Mr Hoang Van Dung, Permanent Deputy Chairman of VCCI said: “The agreement signing will promote the relationship between the two countries, especially in business sector through bilateral cooperation and business development policies as well as support the staff and expert training programs in MICE field”. He pledged that VCCI will closely cooperate with TCEB in commercial promotion and MICE activities in order to bring maximum benefits to enterprises of two countries.

“Being a government agency having the duty of enhancing MICE tourism, TCEB is aware of the importance of regional cooperation for the industry’s growth. We hope the upcoming integration of ASEAN economies in 2015 will open way for MICE tourism in Southeast Asia. For this reason, boosting the bilateral relationship is very important to the members in the region in order to build a prosperous and rich ASEAN”. Ms Supawan Teerarat, Director of TCEB stated.

Vietnam and Thailand agreement signing created an opportunity for two countries to promote MICE tourism in particular and tourism in general in the near future.