Together with a sustainable, tech-forward and innovative approach, Thailand is a top contender as an events destination
Brought to you by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau
Thailand’s events sector has seen not just mere recovery from the global pandemic, but continuous growth.
While the global exhibition industry anticipated a five-year recovery, Thailand achieved full recovery in just three years. By 2025, exhibition participation and revenue had surged to 135 per cent of 2019 levels, reinforcing its status as a top exhibition destination in the region.
In 2025 alone, Thailand hosted 132 international exhibitions, welcomed 23.6 million participants, and generated approximately US$2.9 billion in exhibition-related revenue. With the largest exhibition space in ASEAN and the fourth largest in Asia, Thailand has both the capacity and the operational experience to support events of global scale.
Behind these successful numbers, it is its approach to future exhibitions that sets it apart.
Redefining how events are designed and experienced
Thailand’s exhibition industry is evolving beyond just traditional trade platforms into strategic meeting places that connect global business, innovation, and investment.
Guided by research from Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s (TCEB’s) MICE Intelligence Center, organisers are designing events that recognise a key insight: not all attendees engage in the same way.
With research indicating that 46 per cent of professionals identify as introverted, venues and organisers are creating multiple participation pathways, from high-energy networking environments to quieter, focused discussion spaces. To complement this need, artificial intelligence is used to enhance participant experience through personalised recommendations, intelligent matchmaking, and real-time language translation.
As a regional meeting point linking China, India, the Middle East, and South-east Asia, Thailand frequently hosts multilingual audiences. AI-driven tools help turn this diversity into an advantage, enabling more seamless and productive connections at large-scale international events.
Sustainability built into the exhibition ecosystem
Another strength for Thailand is that sustainability is embedded into practices, rather than as an afterthought. The country leads ASEAN in the number of Certified Exhibition Management (CEM) professionals and has the highest number of Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) graduates in Asia, reflecting sustained investment in workforce development.
Under the principle of Eco by Default, energy-efficient venues, waste reduction systems, carbon measurement tools, offset programmes, and sustainable sourcing are part of everyday operations.
Building on this foundation, Thailand is advancing Circular Intelligence, applying circular economy principles to event design. Exhibition structures are created for disassembly, materials are selected for reuse, and partnerships with recycling enterprises help close the loop on event waste. This approach aligns naturally with Thailand’s strategic focus on Bio-Circular-Green industries, making the destination particularly relevant for ESG- and sustainability-focused events.
Culture as living experience
Thailand is also expanding the role of culture within exhibitions. With ambitions to become Asia’s fifth Mega City of Art & Design, the country is promoting creative exhibitions and partnerships that move beyond static cultural showcases.
Under the Heritage Renewed approach, cultural elements are transformed into participatory experiences such as culinary workshops and design collaborations, allowing meaningful engagement and opportunities for skill exchange.
Collaboration as strength
Strong alignment between government and industry underpins Thailand’s exhibition success.
A global UFI survey ranks Thailand among the best countries worldwide for government support of the exhibition sector. On top of that, it is one of only five countries globally with an official exhibition industry policy. This alignment provides organisers with long-term strategic certainty and confidence.
Thailand’s competitive edge is further validated by major upcoming events, including Gastech 2026, expected to welcome over 50,000 participants, and the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference 2026.
These events align with the country’s focus on five priority industry clusters: Medical and Health, Digital Industries, Modern Automotive, BCG, and Services, positioning exhibitions as catalysts for high-value business transformation.
More than a host destination, Thailand is building an exhibition ecosystem that is actively shaping the future of exhibitions: more intelligent ways to facilitate connections, more responsibility towards the environment, more authentic cultural engagement, and more collaboration to create value.
Looking to host your next event in Thailand? Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau provides the support for international event planners and organisers for maximum event success.
