10th MICE City Summit Unveils Breakthrough Collaboration for Urban Development Through MICE PSU – TCEB – Ministry of Interior – OVEC Join Forces to Align National Strategy and Develop High-Performance MICE City Leaders

10th MICE City Summit Unveils Breakthrough Collaboration for Urban Development Through MICE

PSU – TCEB – Ministry of Interior – OVEC Join Forces to Align National Strategy and Develop High-Performance MICE City Leaders

28 April 2026 – The MICE City Summit, spearheaded by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, marks its 10th edition with a significant milestone, unveiling an innovative collaboration framework for MICE-driven urban development. Prince of Songkla University (PSU) and TCEB have joined forces with the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) to sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership aims to develop high-performance human capital and establish a City Data Intelligence ecosystem, elevating Thailand’s MICE industry from the grassroots level to global sustainability standards.

As a government agency, TCEB is mandated to strengthen Thailand’s MICE City development, enhancing cities’ capabilities to host international events—one of the country’s key competitive advantages in securing global events. Since its inception in 2016, the MICE City Summit has rotated among regional MICE Cities, providing a platform for city leaders, administrators, and stakeholders to exchange perspectives, strategies, knowledge, and best practices in leveraging MICE as a driver for urban development. From the original five MICE Cities—Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya-Chonburi, Phuket, and Khon Kaen—the network has expanded to ten cities, now including Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and Songkhla.

Over the past decade, the Summit has laid a strong foundation for MICE-led urban development. In 2026, it reaches a new level by establishing a historic collaboration focused on talent development and data-driven urban ecosystems. Key partners include the Ministry of Interior, the principal government body overseeing nationwide urban administration; Prince of Songkla University, a leading higher education institution in southern Thailand and anchor of Songkhla MICE City; and OVEC, the country’s main agency for vocational workforce development. The Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau (SCEB) also plays a vital operational role in driving this initiative.

A cornerstone of this collaboration is the success of the partnership between TCEB, SCEB, and PSU in positioning Songkhla as a sustainability-driven destination. In 2024, Songkhla ranked 3rd in Asia in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index). This success has been distilled into the “Songkhla Model,” which will serve as a blueprint for future urban development under this cooperation framework.

Mr. Polapee Suwunchwee, Deputy Minister of Interior, stated: “Urban development in this century can no longer rely solely on infrastructure or traditional management. It must be powered by collaboration, data, knowledge, and mechanisms that truly connect local and national economies. The MICE industry is one of the most powerful strategic tools to achieve this mission. Beyond generating event revenue, it creates opportunities, jobs, empowers local entrepreneurs, and delivers tangible benefits to the grassroots economy. This collaboration marks a new chapter in Thailand’s urban development, with the Ministry of Interior committed to integrating all sectors to build modern, resilient, and inclusive cities centered on people.”

Mr. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, added: “Under the modern ‘Relieve Suffering, Promote Happiness’ strategy, the Ministry is ready to elevate local governance structures by using the MICE platform as a key mechanism to reduce inequality and drive area-based economic growth. We aim to develop ‘high-performance city managers’ with deep socio-cultural understanding to transform cities across Thailand into livable spaces and economic powerhouses. Our ultimate success will be measured by increased grassroots income and equitable opportunity distribution through intelligent data systems enabling real-time policy decisions. This is not merely a collaboration—it is a reform of the Ministry into a strategic organisation capable of positioning Thai cities as global destinations.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University, said: “PSU proudly presents the success of the ‘Songkhla Model’ as the region’s largest Living Lab, driven by the Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau (SCEB) under PSU’s supervision, functioning as a City CVB. Songkhla has achieved global recognition, ranking No.1 sustainable MICE city in Thailand for three consecutive years, No.3 in Asia, and No.28 globally in the GDS-Index 2025. It also ranked 7th globally in Social Progress and was honored as ‘IFEA World Festival & Event City 2025.’ These achievements have been translated into educational innovation through a Credit Bank system that removes learning barriers. We are not merely teaching—we are building an ecosystem to develop high-performance MICE city leaders who can think, act, and deliver effectively. PSU is committed to using this model as a blueprint to elevate grassroots economies nationwide and position Thailand as a global hub for learning and events.”

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, stated: “TCEB’s policy focuses on strengthening Thailand’s MICE ecosystem to enhance global competitiveness, particularly in talent quality and destination development—key factors influencing event selection. This collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, PSU, and OVEC marks a new milestone in integrated partnership across policy, operations, and education. It reinforces the foundation of Thailand’s MICE ecosystem and reflects our commitment to expanding MICE from Business Events to Development Events—delivering high-value impact and strengthening Thailand’s credibility and trust in the global MICE market.”

Mr. Yodsapol Venukosess, Secretary-General of OVEC, said: “Under the OVEC ONE Team policy of ‘Learn Well, Live Happily’ and the principle ‘Do Good, Do It Well, Do It Now,’ OVEC is ready to integrate PSU’s academic excellence and TCEB’s policy innovation to transform vocational educators nationwide into true ‘nation builders.’ Through borderless learning platforms, we will empower teachers to become innovation leaders capable of developing a new generation of high-performance, job-ready professionals aligned with the needs of the MICE industry and the modern economy. This marks a significant step forward for Thailand’s vocational education—from follower to key engine driving Thai talent onto the global stage, creating sustainable and resilient economic impact for the country.”

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