The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are set to work on Mice campaigns to boost visitors to Khon Kaen province.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of the TCEB, said Khon Kaen is one of five target provinces that the TCEB and the TAT plan to develop as destinations for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) business, or Mice cities.
The collaboration also aims to push Khon Kaen to become a smart city as part of government initiatives to extend urbanisation beyond Bangkok.
"Khon Kaen has high potential to serve Mice travellers, both locals and foreigners, thanks to supportive facilities including the newly opened Khon Kaen International Convention Centre and tourist attractions in the province," Mr Chiruit said.
Last year more than 474,000 Mice visitors travelled to Khon Kaen and generated income in excess of 950 million baht for the province. Arrivals are expected to surpass 500,000 and create 1 billion baht in income this year.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said his organisation and the TCEB are launching campaigns throughout this year under the theme "Khon Kaen New Biz" to promote the province as a Mice destination.
"We will be running two campaigns, focusing on meetings, incentives and conventions from March to the end of September this year," Mr Yuthasak said. "The project is expected to draw more than 5 million visitors to the province in 2018."
Khon Kaen province has became a destination for trade, investment, logistics, transport and tourism.
There are 32 flights a day to Khon Kaen from cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Phuket. More than 360 hotels are located in the province, offering 10,068 rooms.
Other facilities such as hospitals and commercial centres have opened in the province in recent years.
"The new megaprojects being pushed by the government, such as high-speed trains, smart mass transit and international airports, are expected to help reinforce the province's status as a Mice hub," Mr Yuthasak said.
The TCEB has been developing and promoting five major provinces to be hubs for Mice, under which Khon Kaen is designated as a hub for the Greater Mekong Subregion in order to help boost Mice business in other provinces in the Northeast.