Thailand proposes alliance to jumpstart Asia's convention market

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) have raised the idea of an alliance between key regional convention bureaus, to revive international conventions in Asia.

Under the proposed Asia Convention Alliance founding members, Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, have been selected for two reasons.

First is the prediction that "as convention attendees feel confident enough to venture beyond borders again, they will start with regional destinations," said Nichapa Yoswee, senior vice president, business, TCEB.

Second, the selected countries have been "deemed safe and well prepared".

Yoswee also pointed out how post-Covid, the conventions sector will be the answer to fresh demand for new knowledge, experiences, and channels for professional growth.

"The time is right to form an Asian alliance that can capitalise on our collective knowledge and capabilities...We must be ready to make a convincing case for conventions in Asia."

Apart from restoring the region's convention sector and facilitating knowledge exchange, the alliance would also strengthen relations between member countries. To achieve these, TCEB and TICA have envisioned a slew of projects, which include possible alliances for Asia's Professional Conference Organisers (PCO), presenting the idea of joint conventions that rotate across member countries, and creating an Asian edition of a global event.

If realised, this means industry professionals could be looking at new Asian PCO alliance roundtables, client-supplier business forums, marketing and visa help between participating countries during a joint convention, or travel bubble promotional campaigns.

For a start, Nichapa suggests convention bureaus and PCOs in Asia could produce a list of potential conventions in the region, which can then be rotated among member countries within a three-year time frame.

Sumate Sudasna, president of TICA — whose members span the entire chain of incentive and convention suppliers — is eager to begin.

"We want to help our members overcome the challenges of 2020 and build themselves up again for the new opportunities that will appear on the horizon. We are ready to share our resources and market expertise with every member of the proposed Asian Convention Alliance. Together, we can give Asia's convention industry a deserving reboot in 2021."