TICA：经济趋缓下泰国企业团体倾向国内会奖旅游（MICE）

Thai corporate groups are keeping their meetings and incentives inside the country as companies trim travel budgets against a softening economy, according to the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA).

Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, TICA’s president, said outbound corporate travel had been substantial through Thailand’s stronger economic years, but is now easing as businesses brace for further volatility.

“Amid current economic headwinds, organisations are optimising their budgets,” Prachoom said. “Consequently, outbound travel is contracting as companies pivot toward domestic venues.”

Within Thailand, demand is spreading beyond the primary cities that once held concentrated incentive and meetings business, with organisers increasingly routing groups to secondary destinations.

“These locations offer exceptional cost-efficiency while delivering novel experiences. Furthermore, they align seamlessly with corporate ESG objectives, allowing organisations to uplift local communities through impactful CSR initiatives,” Prachoom said.

However, the dispersal is bounded by infrastructure, as many secondary destinations cannot handle large groups, confining the trend to small and medium-sized parties.

“For delegations exceeding 100 participants, infrastructure in many secondary markets remains a logistical challenge. While select hubs like Khon Kaen possess the requisite capacity, destinations such as Phatthalung currently lack the flight connectivity and hospitality infrastructure required to accommodate larger groups,” she elaborated.

The constraint sits within a wider government drive to build Thailand’s visitor economy, which Prachoom is helping to shape as a committee member working alongside former tourism minister Weerasak Kowsurat. The committee, which meets weekly, is examining how creativity and local identity can be drawn on to create new visitor experiences without depleting natural resources.

“We must pivot toward high-value segments that drive sustainable economic growth for Thailand. Sectors such as MICE, long-stay tourism, wellness, gastronomy, and major events generate consistent, year-round demand. Transitioning away from legacy models toward these high-yield areas is imperative for our industry’s future,” Prachoom concluded.