Protracted political protests in Bangkok take shine out of MICE business

BANGKOK’S business events industry is flatlining as a result of protracted anti-government protests which have dominated parts of the city for more than three months, resulting in losses of more than 1.2 billion baht (US$36.6 million), MICE specialists say.

DMCs are reporting rising cancellations and a dip in requests for new business as MICE visitors are put off by political turbulence combined with dozens of travel advisories urging visitors to avoid parts of Bangkok, or bypass the city altogether.

Sumlee Anankamanee, Thailand incentives manager at Asian Trails, said the only new business was coming from ad hoc groups.

“No one is coming. No one is asking for (itineraries and quotes) this year, groups are just making requests for next year. There are many cancellations,” she said.
“We had problems in December and January. It should be peak season now, but if there’s more fighting things will get worse.”

Other specialists report equally grim news.

Events Travel Asia said a group of 1,000 pax cancelled in December because of the anti-government protests.

“Requests for new business in Bangkok are declining,” said MICE manager Pom Nopkesorn, who added the DMC has managed to relocate some groups to Malaysia.

“We’re trying to be as positive as possible. We tell clients it is safe to come (as long as) they avoid protest areas.”

IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center is facing numerous cancellations, mostly from domestic clients.

For the time being, Chiang Mai and Phuket remain viable alternatives for DMCs trying to convince clients not to cancel, while Pattaya is seen as being too risky due to its proximity to Bangkok.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau said it has helped minimise cancellations by regularly updating local and international stakeholders on the situation which has been largely confined to certain parts of Bangkok, leaving much of the city unaffected.

The political situation has reduced the number of MICE visitors to Thailand by 13,396 persons, down 7.9 per cent on the bureau’s target of 170,000 delegates from January to February.

Notable cancelled corporate meetings and incentive groups include CommsGroup SKO14 and Thomson Reuters Asia Regional Sales Conference, while ALERE Mega Incentive and the International Congress in Aesthetic Dermatology 2014 have postponed their activities.

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