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Thailand: Group eager to entice exhibitors
The Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) is planning measures to bring back vaccinated international exhibitors without quarantine requirements by the second half of the year, in line with the government’s reopening plans for leisure tourists.
Pravit Sribanditmongkol, the newly elected president of TEA, said the association would like to launch an entry scheme for international exhibitors, allowing them to travel under sealed routes between hotels and venues in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, while being monitored by medical staff.
Other Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) agencies such as the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association plan meet to brainstorm ideas.
After measures are determined in June, the group wants to discuss ways to implement them with the Public Health Ministry.
He said Mice travellers will be required to pre-register before joining exhibitions, making it easier to contact them in case of emergency.
Mice visitors have higher purchasing power, with average spending of 15,000 baht per person, per day in 2019 compared with local Mice visitors at 3,000 baht per day, said Mr Pravit.
Employees in the exhibition business must be vaccinated to ensure safety, as they would be in close contact with foreign visitors, he said.
Mr Pravit said around 60,000-70,000 Mice workers do business with foreigners, but the association would specify the number of frontline staff who should be prioritised for inoculation. The vaccine proposal is slated for submission to the government next month, he said.
“The recovery pace of international exhibitions depends on 70% of the population being vaccinated in order for the government to ease restrictions for Mice travellers,” said Mr Pravit.
In terms of domestic exhibitions, most operators plan to monitor the virus situation to decide whether they can host events in May as planned.
He said occupancy for exhibition venues in the first quarter recorded 60-70% capacity as major shows such as the Bangkok International Motor Show were organised before the third outbreak began.
The occupancy rate for exhibitions in the second quarter is difficult to estimate, said Mr Pravit.
To preserve confidence, the government must contain the spread by April and prevent an outbreak from ravaging the economy until June, he said.
Kavin Kittiboonya, TEA’s vice-president, said the government should offer subsidies for monthly salaries to operators to help absorb the impact from the third wave.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2104759/group-eager-to-entice-exhibitors