headquarters Destination Report Thailand

is a special edition of

Headquarters Magazine -

June 2014Published by Meeting Media Company (Europe) www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com

Why associations keep returning to

THAILAND

2

Introduction

Ask any person who’s been to Thailand before what it is that they loved about the country, and most would say, in a heartbeat, it is definitely the friendly people. It might be a cliché but it’s true: Thai people are known for their smiles, spontaneous grace and kind-ness. It may be why so many people return to Thailand on business travel or simply for their holidays over and over again.

HAs IT ALLIt seems the country has it all: from mag-nificent palaces to fascinating ruins, from quiet and picturesque rural towns to thrill-ing beach resorts and vibrant metropolises, from white-sanded islands to national parks rich in flora and fauna, there is certainly no shortage of choice. If conventions are easily

organised in most cities, post- or pre-tour options are also countless: cooking classes, trekking, elephant riding, four-wheel drive safaris, mountain biking, eco-tours and many more are available.

If you look at the country as a whole, Thailand offers six world-class conference venues, the largest of which can easily cater to a conference of 10,000+ persons with breakout meeting facilities, dedicated

exhibition space, the latest communications technology, a variety of dining options and many supporting services. The added value here is, thus, Thailand’s strength of variety and its ‘value for money’ character (in com-parison to other well-known other Asian destinations)- Thailand is indeed one of the least expensive places to fly to in Asia. 

Additionally, one of the aspects that makes the country so unique is the blend of the old and new where rich cultural and historical

features are seamlessly combined with modern technology and infrastructure. Thailand’s main and secondary destinations are home to major hotels with meeting facilities and services. This supplement will

thailanda dream come true for the association planner

It’s not the first time I’ve written about Thailand as a convention destination. So one might actually wonder if there are still things to report about. And that’s precisely it. Generally regarded as one of the most popular destinations for this kind of travel, Thailand is a magnet for convention and congresses of all sizes because it is ideally situated at the heart of Asia and offers an enormous range of facilities and services. In short, there’s always something new to discover in Thailand!

Report Rémi Dévé

From mAgNIFIceNT pALAces To FAscINATINg ruINs, From pIcTuresque ToWNs To THrILLINg beAcH resorTs

AND vIbrANT meTropoLIses, From WHITe-sANDeD IsLANDs To NATIoNAL pArks, THere Is cerTAINLy No sHorTAge

oF cHoIce IN THAILAND

Pattaya

3

Introduction

specially focus on Bangkok and Pattaya. I’ll deal with the other major MICE three - Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Khon Kaen - hopefully very soon.

HIgHLy beNeFIcIALUltimately what makes Thailand’s tourism product so exceptional is that it is so vibrant. The meetings industry, with the highly-professional Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) as its spearhead, is constantly seeking to refine and add to the options. There is always something new to discover and when you add expert staff and experienced destination management to the already existing mix, Thailand becomes as much a winner for delegates as for association planners.

Event planning and hosting has become one of the country’s specialties, and I dare say the MICE industry has even greater potential for future development and growth, to become a key sector in Thailand’s already well-established tourism. Just

because the will, whether in terms of gov-ernment support or professional expertise, is there, and just because of the outstanding amount of facilities on offer throughout the country leading delegates and planners to return over and over again.

To remain competitive in this ever-com-petitive world, TCEB normally provides support to international conventions to be organised in Thailand. Regularly indeed, special promotion campaigns are set up with different aims. Key elements of inter-est to association planners include the ‘conventions bonus’, which offers associa-tions, PCOs, governments and educational institutions significant financial subsidies for groups of 300 or more delegates to interna-tional conventions held in Thailand. There is also the visitor promotion campaign called “connect people” where TCEB provides additional subsidies for event organisers to promote their upcoming convention to be held in Thailand or in any of the ASEAN +6 countries, the goal being to reach maximum

exposure in the region. More information can be found on the TCEB website.

eAsy AccessThanks to its location in the centre of Asia, Thailand is a major aviation hub with Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport as the main entry point to the country. Flying in and out is easy: Suvarnbhumi Airport handles flights from over 100 airlines, pro-viding connections to most of the world’s major cities. Thai carriers also provide links from Bangkok to 26 destinations in Thailand, none more than one-hour’s flight away. When it comes to meetings, easy access is paramount, and Thailand definitely flexes its muscles in this area.

The system of highways, lesser roads and railways also complement Thailand’s air infrastructure quite efficiently. I stayed almost a week in Thailand and drove from Bangkok to Pattaya very smoothly: the roads are good, the drivers generally careful, the connections flawless!

Bangkok - The Emerald Buddha Temple The famous Tuk Tuks

4

Introduction

THAILAND, THe FAsT FAcTs• Accessibility: Suvarnabhumi International Airport is reachable from nearly every major

city on earth. Domestically, most flights are serviced by Don Muang Airport.• Accommodation: almost 85,000 hotel rooms catering to all kinds of budgets available in

the Metropolitan Cluster comprising Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin• Meeting facilities: Major and varied choice of venues in all Thai destinations making up

thousands of available meeting square meters• pre- and post- conference options: variety of activities comprising golf, spa, sporting

packages, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Green Meeting pro-grammes and much more

opeN To THe WorLDMy stay in Thailand coincided with the civil unrest the media all over the world reported on. If, at first, I was a bit dubious about my coming over, I immediately con-cluded that it was just stories blown a bit out of proportion. I guess if TCEB had had any doubt about my safety, they would not have invited me in the first place. And indeed I found out that the protests were mostly happening in one place, while, in the rest of Bangkok and the country, it was really business as usual. In fact, at the time of writing, all major MICE venues and tourist attractions in the Thai capital are open nor-mally. Business travellers can visit all venues and attractions using the usual means of transport, while all airports in Bangkok and throughout Thailand are operating normally.

Which is leading me to think: Thailand might well be a country in transition to an ever-more international status. This is what makes it such a great place to visit and to go back time and time again. Thailand has a rich cultural background, incredible diversity and a climate suitable for travel almost year round. It’s no secret Bangkok is now a centre for business within South East Asia, due to its geographic location, but also due to the fact that Thailand has a strong economy, with the meetings industry being a big part of it.

I will even go one step further. Thailand’s location in the heart of Southeast Asia

makes it a natural gateway to the emerging economies of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, while its membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) provides easy access to this fast-growing economic market. Thailand is a production and export base for key industries such as automotive and industrial components, computers and IT, energy, rubber and plastics. In addition, Thailand’s free trade agreements with 10 countries will create more business opportunities, and, by 2015, the country will have access to an integrated market of a combined population in excess of 600 million people. In this regard, meeting there makes all the more sense, as it will allow for opportunities like never before.

Last but not least is worth noting Thailand is well on its way to become a knowledge-based economy, which implies increased

productivity, manufacture of high value-added products, and unleashing the creativity of the Thai people. This is clearly noticeable in the agricultural sector, where the nation has moved away from being a mere supplier of raw materials to a manufacturer of processed foods which can compete on a global level. In the automotive industry as well, Thailand is enhancing its production capacity of more technologically advanced components to service the needs of a demanding industry. All the more reasons for associations to come and see what the country has up its sleeves!

coNTAcTThailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)mic@tceb.or.th / info@tceb.or.thT. +66 2694 6000www.businesseventsthailand.com

Dinner Function on Train Hua Hin

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Bangkok

Bangkok is one of Asia’s great capital cities, a dynamic business and cultural centre for both Thailand and the region. Its friendly, lively atmosphere is a magnet for interna-tional visitors: tourists for the attractions, food, shopping and entertainment; del-egates for the numerous opportunities for expanding the knowledge that this exciting city offers.

eAsy ALL ArouNDAs you would expect, Bangkok is very popu-lar with international associations wishing to organise conventions or congresses of any size because of the wide range of high-quality venues and hotels with superb ser-vice and meeting rooms, hosting up to a few thousands people at a time. Those venues, I dare say, complement each other, rather than compete with one another. It’s about quantity but also quality, and the choices of venues in Bangkok mean there’s a venue

that’s just right for every event. Customer satisfaction is, thus, pretty much guaranteed: there is, in short, something for everyone.

Accessibility and commuting around Bangkok is also quite easy: an integrated infrastructure ensures international visitors enter the capital and move around the city without difficulty. Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the region’s major aviation hubs, while the Airport Rail Link provides a 30 to 45-minute fast commute into the city centre. A network of cross-city elevated expressways also facilitates traffic, while a

well-run mass transit system provides fast links to pretty much all corners of the city: operating up above the sometimes crazy Bangkok traffic, the BTS Skytrain has two lines covering the central business districts and further afield. With the underground (MRT) rail system, it connects the main shopping, entertainment and business areas of the city, while river taxis and express boats can be used to explore many historic sites and attractions at the riverside.

Let’s, in fact, put it this way: the Thai capital has been a global MICE destination for decades, hosting industry trade shows, international exhibitions, diplomatic and political functions of all kinds. When you confirm your MICE event in Thailand, you aren’t just booking on trust - you’re booking on what is actually true and will be delivered! Bangkok has extensive accommodation to suit all budgets - its 4-5 star hotels are, for instance, renowned throughout the world for their luxurious quality and outstanding service. But there are also boutique and budget hotels – no matter how much money you have as a planner or a delegate, you will definitely find something that suits your needs.

Bangkoklarger than life

Like you would expect in a large metropolis, there’s so much to do and see in Bangkok. Coming from the airport or driving around, your eyes actually can’t get enough. It’s like everywhere you turn, there’s a temple, a hotel, or a venue that you can hire out for events. The writing space I’m dedicated to Bangkok here won’t do justice to the destination, but I hope this will give a you a good taste of what the Thai capital can offer in terms of conference space and post- or pre- event activities.

WHeN you coNFIrm your mIce eveNT IN THAILAND,

you AreN’T jusT bookINg oN TrusT - you’re bookINg oN WHAT Is AcTuALLy True

AND WILL be DeLIvereD!

6

Bangkok

ToucH oF sIAm AND moreTake, for instance, the millennium Hilton bangkok, where I was lucky enough to stay. Incorporating contemporary western design with a touch of Siam, it’s literally stunning, with its 32 floors and outstanding views of the Chao Phraya River. Located in the heart of Bangkok, on the Thonbusi side which is the former capital of Bangkok, it offers one of the city’s most enviable meeting spaces.

Along both sides of the river also lie many spectacular hotels. The picturesque mandarin oriental bangkok caters up to 1000 guests for a cocktail; shangri-la Hotel, considered by many a luxurious oasis, accommodates up to 1,600 delegates theatre style and boasts an impressive spa, along 802 guest rooms; royal orchid sheraton combines warm Thai hospitality and world-class service in a modern setting and offers 22 tasteful venues for a stylish event (the largest meeting space is about 1,400m2); set within the resort’s lush natural gardens over-looking the Chao Phraya River, the bespoke and seamless meeting environment at the Anantara bangkok riverside resort & spa is large enough for up to 800 people.

If you’re more into boutique hotels and intimate, smaller meeting space, The siam and praya palazzo Hotel are options worth considering. The former is a private 39-room luxury retreat located in Bangkok’s royal historic district, a fascinating mix of Art Deco highlights and Thai antique infused master-pieces, allowing for a serene atmosphere. As to Praya Palazzo Hotel, it is a 17-room elegant mansion by the Chao Phraya River as well, a graceful oasis in which you feel immediately at ease. Dating back to the ancient kingdom of Siam, it has space for meetings up to 150 people. As to budget hotels, they include Lub d bangkok silom, rated ‘one of the coolest hangout hostels in the world’ by the British Observer, and sur-rounded by a plethora of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs in the city’s business district. Another unusual option is bangkok Tree House, one of the few green hotels by the river, where you can actually sleep in a tree!

FuN AND pLAy IN bANgkokBangkok is not only about business, it’s also about fun and play. One of the city’s top

selling points as a MICE destination is that fact that it’s an awesome tourist destination where you can keep returning to, just for the sheer amount of things to do and see.

Dining out is both affordable and immensely enjoyable, with restaurants all over the city serving a mouth-watering selection of cuisines, from street food to Michelin Star, from Thai Cuisine to varied international food. An abundance of department stores, malls and markets - you should definitely check out the new and enticing Asiatique riverfront - will allow you to shop until you drop, and you might take home some famous Thai Silk if you wish. But above all, visitors should make time to experience a traditional Thai massage or a pampering treatment in an elegant spa to truly savor Bangkok’s gentle hospitality.

Those are of course not the only options in Bangkok. Groups can also enjoy a luxury dinner cruise aboard a converted rice barge along the Chao Phraya River, which winds its way past the city’s most famous temples and palaces, like the grand palace, the former residence of the Kings of Thailand. Other popular options include a Thai theme party at the siam society, cocktails at the Sampran Riverside formal known as rose garden (a 70-acre resort on the outskirt of Bankok with botanical gardens, a hotel, conference facilities, a spa and an 18-hole golf course), dinner at the chakrabongse summer palace or a special event at the Ancient city, a ‘mini-Thailand’ theme park. Another experience includes the perfor-mance ‘muay Thai Live: the Legend Lives’, showcasing the origins and heroes of Thai Kickboxing at Bangkok’s newest playhouse.

I would personally advise a simple stroll through chinatown and Little India. Walking narrow alleyways and winding pathways best accessed through two-wheel transport, you will pass scented markets, local Buddhist temples and a vast array of ‘street life’ features. Other communities include the Santacruize Catholics, the Kanlayanmit Budhists or the Teuk Deang Islamic com-munity, making Bangkok a rich melting pot of culture and traditions. Learning Thai cook-ing is also a must for delegates who want to experience something different or who are just curious, just like food carving and flower

Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa

Bankok Giant Swing at Wat Suthat

IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center

Praya Palazzo Hotel

7

mAIN veNues IN bANgkok• Queen Sirikit National Convention Center: Thailand’s first purpose-

built world-class exhibition and convention centre can hold up to 6,000 delegates over more than 65,000 square meters of event space.

• IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center: Hosting nearly 500 events per year, it’s the ultimate choice for any business event in need of up to 140,000 m2 of space accommodating up to 42,000 people!

• Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC): An attractively designed facility offering 36,000 m2 of column-free space and a total exhibit area of 50,400 m2 for up to 12,000 people.

• Royal Paragon Hall Exhibition & Convention Center: Branded as ‘the Ultimate Venue in a Prestigious Location’, ie on the fifth floor of the Siam Paragon shopping mall, Royal Paragon Hall, with a trio of halls, six meeting and VIP rooms and an open-air terrace boasting a gross event space of 12,000 m2, is a luxurious, yet surprisingly accessible places to host an event.

• Bangkok Convention Center: Located inside the Central Plaza Shopping Complex, it provides more than 5,000 m2 of usable space over two levels.

• Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld: Sitting alongside the five-star Centara Grand Hotel, the fully integrated, now iconic venue seems ideal for any kind of corporate events. The main hall can accommodate up to 6,000 seats in theatre style.

• Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall: With views of the Chao Phraya and the Grand Palace, it’s a unique space for up to 2,000 people.

Bangkok

arranging which can be organised pretty much any time of the day.

Wat Suthat, better known for the towering red giant swing that stands at its entrance, is one of the oldest and most impressive tem-ples in Bangkok. It features an elegant chapel with sweeping roof, magnificent wall murals and exquisite hand-carved teakwood door panels, definitely a must-see. Last but not least, there is the princess mother memorial park and museum, a memorial to the King’s beloved mother. Amid mature trees is her home recreated, while a museum docu-ments Thonburi and the royal family history. Cocktails in the inner gardens are possible, combined with a visit of the premises.

The crystal-clear message here is that Bangkok will continuously be yours to discover. No matter how many times you go, there will always be something there you didn’t know, something to learn about, something to bring home.

Asiatique Riverfront

Muay Thai Live - The Legend Lives

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center

8

Bangkok

case study12TH WorLD bLIND uNIoN AsIA-pAcIFIc mAssAge semINAr

Bangkok has built up its profile as the perfect host for the holding of the international meeting for the blind for the second time in two years. In November 2012, it successfully welcomed the 8th General Assembly of the World Blind Union and the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment Conference (WBU-ICEVI 2012), attracting more than 1,000 delegates.

On 5-7 May 2014, at the Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel, it contributed again to the meeting of the World Blind Union by hosting the 12th World Blind Union Asia-Pacific Massage Seminar. Held under the theme ‘Medical Massage for the Blind’, the aim of the event was to promote the massage among the blind as a sustainable profession for therapy and treatment, to promote traditional Thai massage internationally and exchange knowledge about massage among the blind from Asia-Pacific countries.

Hosted by the Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind and Thailand Association of the Blind, the event was attended by around 400 visually impaired persons from China, Korea, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.

One key element that made the seminar a real success was a hand-ful of volunteers from several organisations based in Thailand. They helped the blind delegates throughout the event, escorted them to the venue and hotel as soon as the plane’s door opened at Bangkok International Airport. They accompanied the blind to site visits and around the venue. A manual on how to work efficiently with the blind was produced and published for the volunteers to study so that they could ease the delegates’ journey in Thailand accordingly.

Dr. Pecharat Techavachara, President of the Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind and Chairman of Local Organising Committee of the 12th WBUAP Massage Seminar, said that, in addition to the great work done by the volunteers, the seminar became possible because of the full support from relevant government agencies in Thailand, such as the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine under the Ministry of Public Health and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

Thailand was instrumental in establishing the World Blind Union Asia Pacific (WBUAP) under the World Blind Union, whose mission is to raise the awareness on the capabilities of the blind and to advance their well-being. Thailand hosted the 1st General Assembly of WBUAP in 2001, when the constitution of the organisation was first drafted. Thailand is also known the world over for its traditional Thai massage therapies, which are to be found in almost any spa centres houses in leading hotels in all major MICE cities.

Overseas Blind Delegates

Exhibition on Body Massage by the Blind

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Pattaya

A two-hour drive from Bangkok, Pattaya was, not so long ago, just a fishing village when American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War discovered a coral-filled bay and decided to set camp there. Tens of thou-sands of lonely soldiers armed with dollars sought respite from the war in a country of affordability and open-mindedness, making Pattaya known as a city rich in nightlife entertainment and party goers.

mATHs quIckLy DoNeIf, to this day, Pattaya has still not a repu-table image, things are gradually changing, partly due to the efforts of the local meet-ings industry, with the support of the Thai government. Though the overall ambience in Pattaya is that of a relaxed tropical resort - Pattaya is in fact one of Asia’s premier beach destinations - recent tourism investment and development has led to an increase in meeting space and venues, turning the city into a MICE destination.

Easy accessibility from Bangkok, at 140 kilo-metres from Bangkok and less than one

and a half hour drive from Suvanabhumi International Airport via modern motorway, along with the city’s many attractions, have increased the interest of a growing business meetings segment and corporate groups looking for off-site experiences while taking a short break from business. And when you know that Pattaya also offers nearly 400 international standard hotels, with a com-bined 28,459 rooms available, the maths is quickly done.

The largest of Pattaya’s venues is the so-called PEACH, Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall. Located on the 1,090-room Royal Cliff Resort, which was constructed over the slopes of the cliff, with beautiful views over the Gulf of Thailand, it’s a stand-alone, more than 7,000-m2 multi-purpose facility and the largest convention centre outside of the greater Bangkok. The huge but easy-to-navigate building accommodates up to 8,000 delegates theater-style or 3,640 for banquets. The hall is flexible and can be divided into four large sound-proof sections or into 9 smaller

sections. There are also 18 breakout rooms with capacities ranging from 10 to 470 delegates. No wonder that, with this, Pattaya has become a good contender on the international meetings map!

sTroNger TogeTHerRecent efforts to change the image of Pattaya have mainly come from the North pattaya Alliance, a partnership of seven North Pattaya hotels, which just launched a brand-new destination campaign entitled ‘North Pattaya, More Than You Think’. The idea is to build up the area as a world-class destination for meetings of all kinds, includ-ing conventions and congresses of course. Brendan Daly, General Manager of Amari Orchid, explains: ‘Pattaya is gradually moving away from a cheap seaside image. All of the seven members of the alliance, as well as our stakeholders, share the same vision: it’s pos-sible to make Pattaya an upscale MICE des-tination, we have the human resources and infrastructure to do so.’

Indeed, during my stay in Pattaya, I almost became dizzy with, for instance, the MICE hotels on offer, ranging from luxurious options with flexible meetings facilities to smaller properties, most of them with stunning ocean views.

PattayaPromoting high-end conferencesI didn’t know much about Pattaya before I got there. I knew the ICCA Congress took place there in 2007, and that the destination is suffering a bit from an image not in line with what it wants to be. I discovered a city in the process of reinventing itself, with a MICE industry and players willing to take it to the next, high-end level.

Pattaya Park Tower and Sea View of Island and Jomtien Beach

10

Pattaya

The centara Hotels & resorts group has two meetings-friendly properties - the 152-room Centara Pattaya Hotel and the Lost World themed 555-room Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya - with a combined 2,500 m2 of meeting space. Elsewhere, the 525-room Amari orchid resort & Tower has almost 4,000 m2 of meet-ing space – and the expert and friendly staff that goes with it! Right next door, there is the Scandinavian-looking and recently opened Holiday Inn pattaya, whose nice Ballroom accommodates up to 950 people. At the time of writing, they were actually already build-ing an extension of the hotel. Another option would the deluxe Dusit Thani pattaya for up to 3,000 delegates, who will, I’m sure, enjoy the hotel’s atrium as much as I did.

pre- AND posT-coNFereNce opTIoNsBeing a seaside resort, Pattaya offers a lot of opportunities after a hard day’s work at a conference. The sporting ones will enjoy activities both on land and water, including bangy jumping, karting (with racing tracks and circuits of over 10 year experiences to choose from like Pattaya Kart Speedway or Easy Go Kart Pattaya), game fishing and scuba-diving. Golf around Pattaya is also pretty close to golfer’s heaven for high and low handicappers alike. Twenty or more international standard golf courses

are within an hour’s drive of Pattaya, and the courses, designed by such names as Nicklaus, Dye and Faldo, offer the golfer a rare opportunity.

Daytrips to nearby island groups are also popular. In fact, many visitors to Pattaya don’t realize there are idyllic islands and shipwrecks in nearby waters which offer beautiful scenery for those wanting to go deep sea diving. Pattaya may be well-known for its vibrancy but it actually offers seclusion and natural beauty within a fingertip of the city like Larn island, sak island, krok island. Larn island, just 15 minutes from the shore of by speed boat, offers numerous white sandy beaches, lush vegetation, and underwater world. Here you can just relax on the beach, go fishing, snorkeling or take a glass bottom boat service to enjoy marine life. There is even a beautiful mountain top (Khan Nom Viewpoint) on the island where you can have a breathtaking view of Pattaya city from afar.

Pattaya’s attractions also range from tropi-cal gardens to Buddhist temples to typical fishermen villages, leafy wild parks and elephant villages. There are plenty of family type activities in Pattaya involving more than chilling out on a beach. There are horses to ride and theme or water parks (the Pattaya Park Beach Resort with its super slides is definitely fun!) to enjoy…

The three-dimensional gallery, called Art in Paradise, boasts an exhibition of 3-D art-works or interactive art where the viewers can enjoy sharing their imagination actually within the scenes presented on the art-works. Quite a programme!

pATTAyA’s mAIN ATTrAcTIoNs • Thai Alangkarn: a spectacular show

complete with fireworks, projections, dances, and elephants! The venue also serves for meetings for up to 3,000 people.

• Sanctuary of Truth: Thai craftsmanship at its very best

• Ripley’s Haunted Adventure or Believe it or Not! Museum, complete with mysteries, disappearances, foul play and visits to the ‘other side’

• Pattaya Floating Market: the name says it all, the market is big, covering 100,000 m2

• Mini Siam: a small-scale mini-city showcasing replicas of 100 sacred places

• Pattaya Elephant Village: a home for former working elephants, it’s a fascinating place

• Tiffany Show: this transvestite cabaret show is the first in Southeast Asia, of good taste and fun!

Royal Cliff Hotels Group

PEACH

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case study21sT IuHpe WorLD coNFereNce oN HeALTH promoTIoN AND eDucATIoN (IuHpe 2013)

Pattaya has enhanced its profile as an international convention destination when it became the first Asian city to host the conference of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), which is held every three years.

IUHPE is a private development organisation working to promote health and support health equality among the world’s population for over 50 years. The Union has over 2,200 members comprising international, national and local organisations, as well as private individuals from over 90 nations worldwide.

During the 20th IUHPE World Conference between July 11 and 15, 2010 in Geneva, its Board of Trustees strongly supported the Thai Health Promotion Foundation to host the 21st conference due to the foundation’s outstanding performances both at national and international levels in health promotion, making it the first time IUHPE world conference to be organised in Asia.

Held at Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall, from 25-29 August 2013, the event was made possible by the co-hosting of several Thai agencies: Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI) Thailand, National Health Commission Office of Thailand (NHCO), National Health Security Office, Thailand (NHSO), Ministry of Public Health, Thai Airways International and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). Pattaya, which has been collaborating with TCEB to promote itself as a MICE City, also lent strong support by hosting the welcome dinner along with cultural performances, which was attended by the mayor.

More than 1,000 delegates from several relevant sectors participated in the event held under the theme ‘Best Investments for Health’. The aim: to contribute to the development of equity and social justice for health by offering a platform for dialogue, hence driving health promo-tion to the forefront of the global health agenda.

Pattaya

Pattaya IUHPE Cultural Performance

Pattaya IUHPE

Floating Market

3D Art in Paradise Museum