Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau plans to boost domestic events to support the government policies to revitalise the country’s economic growth.

TCEB president, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, said domestic MICE market programmes would play a key role to drive sustainable growth in 2017.

“The bureau has outlined its DMICE promotions with four key strategic projects to encourage public, private, people, and communities to work hand in hand to move forward,” he said last week.

He said the bureau and 21 public and private organisations will encourage companies and organisations to host at least one meeting, seminar, or incentive travel in other provinces this year.

There is usually a rush to host seminars annually as the government fiscal year ends 30 September and state organisations attempt to spend budgets ahead of the deadline.

TCEB will work with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Stock Exchange of Thailand to encourage more events.

TCEB says it will support domestic events by providing transport to support DMICE activities at more than 30 Royal Initiative Projects across the country, booked either through 44 participating leading tour operating agencies, or by individual corporate travel planners.

The bureau will also arrange 10 workshops in Nong Kai, Narathiwas, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Panom, Kanchanaburi, Tak, Mookdaharn, Sa Kaew, Song Khla, and Trat to help raise awareness of and promote readiness to host DMICE events.

DMICE activities will be promoted within a 300 km radius of the capital city by developing an online MICE database of the 14 surrounding provinces by the end of 2016. It will support stakeholder and partner organisations such as the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Personnel Management Association of Thailand to organise events.

During the 2015 fiscal year (1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015), 23 million DMICE travellers generated more than THB46 billion revenue for the Thai economy.