New certifications broaden Thailand’s choice of destinations for meetings, conventions and events

23 September 2026 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB, has certified six new destinations as MICE Cities, expanding Thailand’s nationwide MICE City network to 16 destinations under the “2026 MICE City: 16 Destinations” initiative. The expanded network gives event organisers and international clients a wider choice of destinations, while enabling more cities across Thailand to leverage MICE as a driver of local economic development.

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, said the 2026 MICE City assessment was conducted in mid-September through a rigorous evaluation by experts from both the public and private sectors. The assessment covered eight key criteria and 32 indicators, including accessibility and connectivity, event support, pre- and post-event activities, accommodation and facilities, venue standards, city image and reputation, safety, and risk management.

The assessment resulted in two key outcomes. Three existing MICE Cities – Surat Thani, Phitsanulok and Udon Thani – successfully renewed their MICE City certification, while six new destinations – Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Rayong, Hua Hin–Cha-am, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat – were newly certified as MICE Cities.

The six new MICE Cities bring greater diversity to Thailand’s MICE destination portfolio, each offering distinctive strengths and experiences:

• Chiang Rai in northern Thailand combines premium coffee and tea production, creative arts, multicultural heritage and mountainous landscapes. Located near the borders with Lao PDR and Myanmar, the province is Thailand’s northernmost destination and is served by daily flights to and from Bangkok.
• Ubon Ratchathani, in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, is known for its traditional Candle Festival, Mekong River landscapes and cultural heritage. Its location makes it a gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion, with daily air connections to Bangkok.
• Rayong, on Thailand’s eastern coast near Pattaya, is an important economic and industrial hub and part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The province is home to export-oriented industries, foreign investment and deep-sea ports, with motorway connectivity to Bangkok and access to U-Tapao International Airport, which is undergoing expansion as part of the wider Eastern Aviation City development.
• Hua Hin–Cha-am offers a dual-destination coastal setting on the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 2.5 hours by road southwest from Bangkok. Long established as a retreat destination, the area combines international-standard hotels and venues with heritage, community and leisure experiences. Hua Hin Airport also provides potential for future international connectivity.
• Krabi, on the Andaman coast in the South, combines internationally recognised natural landscapes with modern accommodation and event facilities. Beyond its beaches and mountains, the destination offers opportunities for MICE groups to experience local communities, culture and ways of life.
• Nakhon Si Thammarat, in the South facing the Gulf of Thailand, combines a rich historical heritage with coastal and mountainous landscapes. Once the centre of an ancient kingdom, the province is home to important Buddhist and cultural heritage, alongside agricultural and fisheries industries and premium local produce. It also serves as an important transport hub for southern Thailand.

The growing international recognition of these destinations is reflected in their presence in the ICCA Statistical Report. Among the newly certified destinations, Chiang Rai, Rayong and Nakhon Si Thammarat were recorded in the ICCA 2025 Statistical Report, while Hua Hin appeared in the 2024 edition.

Dr. Supawan emphasised that becoming a MICE City is not simply about receiving official recognition. Rather, certification provides a platform for each destination to use its MICE potential to generate wider economic value, based on its unique strengths or “Destination DNA,” while strengthening its competitiveness as an international business events destination.

“With six new MICE Cities, Thailand is expanding the choices available to event organisers while creating more opportunities for destinations across the country to participate in the MICE economy. Each city has its own Destination DNA, and our role is to help transform these distinctive strengths into meaningful MICE experiences and lasting economic impact,” said Dr. Supawan.

Going forward, TCEB will work with the newly certified destinations in three key areas:

1. Infrastructure & Connectivity – TCEB will build on the “EEC MICE Sandbox” model and develop an Area-based MICE Development Playbook to provide a practical framework that can be adapted and scaled across MICE Cities nationwide. The focus will be on strengthening connectivity, infrastructure and the readiness of local destinations to host business events.

2. City-as-Content & Destination DNA – TCEB will work with each destination to develop MICE programmes around its distinctive identity, assets and local experiences, turning the character of each city into meaningful event content. Sustainable event management will also be promoted through the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEMS).

3. Local MICE Ecosystem – TCEB will strengthen networks of local MICE entrepreneurs and connect them with relevant government support, helping encourage more meetings and seminars to take place in MICE Cities.

With the addition of the six new destinations, Thailand now has 16 certified MICE Cities nationwide: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya (Chonburi), Khon Kaen, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Rayong, Hua Hin–Cha-am, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The next MICE City renewal assessment in 2027 will cover Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khon Kaen, continuing TCEB’s efforts to maintain destination standards while strengthening Thailand’s nationwide MICE ecosystem.

For more information, contact TCEB at: pr@tceb.or.th

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MaxiMICE Thailand – From Potential to Exponential

About TCEB

A LEADING AGENCY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAILAND’S MICE INDUSTRY

Established in 2004, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB – the government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister – has been assigned a role to promote, support and develop business events industry – corporate meetings, incentive trips, conventions, exhibitions, mega events and world festivals. Serving as a strategic partner, TCEB helps deliver creative ideas and solutions to bring success and fulfill the requirements of business events. The overarching goal is to drive Thailand to become a global MICE and mega events destination that can drive the country’s strategic industries and national economy.

For further information, please contact: Corporate Image and Communications Department,

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)

Ms. Nooch Homrossukhon	Director	Tel: + 662 694 6000	Email: nooch_h@tceb.or.th
Mr. Chakrapong Pongwecharak	Senior Expert	Tel: + 662 694 6000	Email: chakrapong_p@tceb.or.th