Escalating Thai protests keep MICE buyers wary

Shanghai As protests in Bangkok turned violent, MICE buyers interviewed at last week?s Incentive Travel & Corporate Meetings China were bleak about prospects of bringing events to Thailand this year, even though some were still trying to cajole clients to meet at Thai destinations other than Bangkok.

Incentive House Travel conference and event manager Les Alford said even before protests took place (on March 12), a 23-pax incentive scheduled from March 1 to 7 in Bangkok had to be relocated to Manila within a week?s notice. ?So for this year, until (the protests) end, I will not propose Thailand, but I will do it for next year,? he said.

Having visited Bangkok two weeks ago, he knew ?it was okay?. ?But people have seen the news and our client companies say it is not worth taking the risk.?

But HPN Global CEO ? International, Ian Quartermaine, who was also in Bangkok two weeks ago, said he would still try to propose Thailand to clients by telling them to avoid Bangkok and visit other Thai destinations such as Phuket instead.

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) president Akapol Sorasuchart said it was noticeable that Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai were more in demand for MICE groups that preferred to avoid Bangkok. Akapol said postponements of events to May were also recorded. ?Unfortunately, there were some cancellations.?

Marwin Tours (Thailand), which enjoyed a peak March, had received cancellations for two 80-pax incentive groups scheduled for Bangkok this month from Poland, said managing director Virat Chatturaputpitak. Though events due in May had yet to be cancelled, he expected more talks would be needed to assure clients? confidence.