Thailand eyes to be world hub for MICE industry

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has joined forces with the private sector to promote Thailand to become a world hub for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkura presided over a ceremony to launch the over-two billion baht-True ICONSIAM Hall project, a world class conference and international exhibition hall, in Bangkok on Thursday, during which executives from the ICONSIAM Co;., Ltd. and True Corporation Public Company Limited (TRUE) were also present. The minister said the MICE industry would be one of most vital sectors to help draw in more quality visitors to the country, which, in turn, would boost national income and distribute more revenues to relevant businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and exhibition centres. The minister noted that the new 12,000 square metre-hall, to be located on the 7th and the 7m floors of the ICONSIAM project along the Chao Phraya River, where 3,000 people are seated, also represents a channel in which both the public and private sectors can support the MICE industry to help steer the domestic economy forward in line with the government's policy on enforcing the power of all sectors in the Thai economy to turn the country into a regional and a world hub for the MICE industry. The construction of the new True ICONSIAM Hall was set to be completed by 2017 and to be opened for public services by 2018. (TNA)