TCEB Announces Six New MICE Cities Expanding Thailand’s MICE City Network to 16 Destinations Krabi, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Rayong, Ubon Ratchathani and Hua Hin–Cha-am Six New Destinations to Drive the Nationwide Distribution of MICE Events Across All Regions of Thailand

TCEB Announces Six New MICE Cities

Expanding Thailand’s MICE City Network to 16 Destinations

Krabi, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Rayong, Ubon Ratchathani and Hua Hin–Cha-am

Six New Destinations to Drive the Nationwide Distribution of

MICE Events Across All Regions of Thailand

22 September 2026 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB, is advancing Thailand’s position as ASEAN’s MICE hub with the certification of six new destinations as MICE Cities. This brings the total number of MICE Cities nationwide to 16 under the “2026 MICE City: 16 Destinations” initiative, strengthening Thailand’s capacity to distribute MICE events across all regions of the country.

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

This year, TCEB and the assessment committee certified six new destinations as MICE Cities: 1. Krabi – An Andaman MICE destination 2. Chiang Rai – A Creative and Cultural MICE Destination 3. Nakhon Si Thammarat – A Cultural and Religious MICE hub 4. Rayong – An industrial MICE hub supporting the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) 5. Ubon Ratchathani – A southern Isan MICE gateway to the Mekong subregion 6. Hua Hin–Cha-am – A MICE destination combining the strengths of the two coastal resort areas and their event venues to support seamless large-scale events and major events

At the same time, the committee approved the renewal of MICE City certification for three existing MICE Cities whose certification cycles had reached the renewal period: Surat Thani, Phitsanulok and Udon Thani.

Dr. Supawan said that becoming a MICE City is not simply about receiving official recognition. It is about leveraging the MICE industry as a driver of each city’s economy based on its unique strengths, or “Destination DNA,” while enhancing the city’s competitiveness.

With the certification of the six new destinations, Thailand now has 16 MICE Cities. The 10 existing MICE Cities are: 1. Bangkok – Thailand’s primary MICE hub 2. Chiang Mai – The MICE hub of northern Thailand and host of MICE City Summit 2027 3. Khon Kaen – The primary MICE hub of northeastern Thailand 4. Phuket – A world-class tourism and incentive hub in southern Thailand 5. Pattaya (Chon Buri) – A key MICE city in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) 6. Nakhon Ratchasima – A MICE city driving economic connectivity across northeastern Thailand 7. Udon Thani – A MICE city connecting Thailand with the Indochina region 8. Songkhla – A model city for sustainable MICE 9. Surat Thani – A high-potential MICE destination in southern Thailand and 10. Phitsanulok – A MICE and tourism hub in the lower northern region.

Following the certification of the six new destinations, TCEB has prepared development plans in collaboration with each province, focusing on three key mechanisms to drive economic growth:

• Infrastructure & Connectivity: Building on the “EEC MICE Sandbox” model and developing an Area-based MICE Development Playbook to scale up the approach across MICE Cities nationwide.
• City-as-Content & Destination DNA: Designing MICE events around the distinctive strengths and identity of each destination, while promoting sustainable event management standards through the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEMS).
• Local Ecosystem: Developing networks of local MICE entrepreneurs and connecting them with tax incentives, including tax deductions of up to 200%, to encourage more organizations to select MICE Cities as destinations for meetings and seminars.

In 2027, TCEB plans to conduct renewal assessments for four major MICE Cities: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Khon Kaen. In parallel, TCEB will develop destination-specific assessment criteria (“By Type”) to better accommodate the diversity and distinctive characteristics of different destinations. These efforts will further strengthen Thailand’s readiness to become the “MICE Hub of ASEAN.”

TCEB’s MICE City initiative was launched in the fiscal year 2019 under TCEB Strategic Issue 4: Strengthening the Competitiveness of the MICE Industry. The initiative is aligned with Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy, particularly the strategy on enhancing national competitiveness; the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027), which aims to position Thailand as a quality and sustainable tourism destination; and the 3rd National Tourism Development Plan (2023–2027), which places emphasis on Business Tourism.

The ultimate goal is to elevate high-potential cities into Preferred MICE Destinations, strengthening Thailand’s nationwide MICE ecosystem and supporting the country’s continued development as a leading MICE hub in ASEAN.

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