Thailand and Southeast Asia's most pressing problem is the need for sustainable development, according to Nichapa Yoswee, director of MICE capability development at the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Speaking at the IMEX trade show in Frankfurt, she said the Thai government was now working with a worldwide initiative to implement changes and will be the first country in the ASEAN group of nations to adopt the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20121 on event sustainability.
Food safety and energy management systems have already been set up in Thailand, while ISO 20121, which has has been adopted by 30 countries worldwide, will be in place by June.
Yoswee added security was another issue for the country to tackle: “I am going immediately after IMEX to Colombia, where there is a conference on security measures, so we are serious about the need to provide peace of mind, as well as other measures that address important considerations for today’s travellers.”
Bangkok is a hot destination at the moment, Yoswee added: “Apart from the few years in which the political situation in Thailand was not settled, the number of incoming visitors to the country has steadily increased, and we see this increasing yet more when we become further linked with the other nine ASEAN countries. In addition, Thai Air will begin additional European service from Bangkok on three new A380 planes next winter. Lastly, ICCA recently listed Bangkok as the 19th most popular destination for the meetings and events industry.”