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MICE
Major MICE conferences going ahead
SUCHAT SRITAMA
The Nation


Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

BANGKOK: -- International business events and conferences scheduled to be held in Thailand over the next few months are to go ahead as planned, but some small meetings have been postponed after the blast in Bangkok early this week that killed at least 20 people, including tourists.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), said all MICE (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) events scheduled to be held in Thailand between this month and October remained on the agenda.

He relayed this information on the TCEB website, which has set up a special "war room" to facilitate organisers and visitors, while the bureau's information centre has been opened at Suvarnabhumi Airport to assist MICE travellers.

During the August-to-October period, a total of 72 MICE events have been confirmed, expecting 76,608 delegates and approximate revenue of Bt6.6 billion. Highlighted events include the 46th "World Congress of Surgery" this month for 2,000 delegates, "FDI Annual World Dental Congress" next month for 9,300 delegates, "TBEX Asia" in October for 900 delegates.

November will see the "One Young World" event for 2,000 delegates.

Sumate Sudasna, president of the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, said some small meetings and conferences from overseas had been postponed because of security worries after Monday's blast at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong Intersec-tion. However, he said the postponed events would be rescheduled and would take place within six months or less. "At this stage, some small MICE groups from Japan and Hong Kong have shifted their events," he said.

During the first three quarters of this year, Thailand is expected to receive 726,280 business-event travellers, up 7.84 per cent from the first nine months of 2014, generating Bt63 billion. The top contributors during this period have been mainland China, Singapore, India, Malaysia, the United States, Laos, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Philippines.

Under its mid-and long-term strategies, the TCEB will place emphasis on restoring confidence through marketing and communication activities to create understanding among the target market and to encourage both the international media and MICE clients to visit Thailand.

Aside from MICE travellers, some tourists have also cancelled trips to Thailand. Thai Airways International and tourism associations reported that many of the cancellations were in the mainland China and Hong Kong markets, where up to 30 per cent of bookings have been called off. Thai Airways International and tourism associations reported that 20-30 per cent of tourists who already booked tickets and packages have postponed trips, mostly from China and Hong Kong

Special travel insurance

In order to attract foreigners back to the country, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has cooperated with four non-life insurers - Muang Thai Insurance, Chao Phaya Insurance, Siam City Insurance and Krungthai Panich Insurance - to offer special travel insurance exclusively for foreign tourists.

Premiums start from Bt650 for a Bt1-million insurance policy covering accidents, trip cancellations, loss or damage of baggage or personal belongings, accommodation fees in case of airport closures, and 24-hour emergency aid provided by Allianz Global Assistance. This insurance policy will cover only tourists who purchase it before travelling to Thailand.

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, minister of tourism and sports, said yesterday that the ministry's tourist assistance fund had paid a total of Bt1.5 million in compensation to families of victims. The ministry has also been in discussions with hotels in the Ratchaprasong area to map out marketing and restoration plans to aid tourism.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Major-MICE-conferences-going-ahead-30267085.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-21

[Time Traveller]

I think the tourists would prefer to not have their bodies torn to peices rather than benefit from any 1 million baht insurance policy...