Frankfurt, Germany: On May 15, 2024, Mr. Tiwat Sidokbuab, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) Vice President, along with PPAO council members and department heads, joined Mr. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) and a delegation of tourism business operators from Phuket to participate in IMEX 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany. The event, held from May 14-16, featured a presentation on Phuket Destination Update by Mr. Sasis Thavornwongwong, Vice President of MICE, for interested business buyers. The presentation was conducted in three sessions, attended by 100 participants, and received very positive feedback.
In the evening, PPAO and PTA organized the “Phuket Night” event within the Thailand Pavilion booth. The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Mr. Singh Limphirat, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Bangkok.
For the first-ever “Phuket Night” at the IMEX event, the response from attendees was overwhelming. The event featured promotions, tastings of food, and products from Phuket and Thailand, such as Moo Hong and fried gain (local Phuket food), rum from Chalong Bay Rum, gin from Saneha Gin, Singha Beer, and Chang Beer. More than 400 people attended the event.
Mr. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, PTA President stated that this year marks the first time the association has participated in the IMEX event. They brought along nine businesses and held over 380 meetings with buyers. It was observed that the travel trends have shifted from leisure travel to off-site meetings and the “Work Anywhere” trend. This shift has made the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market more attractive, providing valuable insights for Phuket’s businesses to adapt and respond effectively.
News and photos: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization