TCEB Expands Thailand’s MICE City Network to 16 Destinations
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Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau adds six new MICE Cities, expanding the country's certified network to 16 destinations.
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23rd Sep, 2026
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Krabi offers event spaces framed by breathtaking views across the Andaman Sea.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (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 use MICE as a driver of local economic development.
Dr Supawan Teerarat, President of TCEB, said the 2026 MICE City assessment was conducted in mid-September by experts from the public and private sectors. The assessment covered eight 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.
Three existing MICE Cities, Surat Thani, Phitsanulok and Udon Thani, successfully renewed their certification. Six new destinations, Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Rayong, Hua Hin–Cha-am, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat, were newly certified.
The additions bring greater diversity to Thailand’s MICE destination portfolio:
- 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 connections 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 of 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 southern Thailand, combines internationally recognised natural landscapes with modern accommodation and event facilities. Its beaches and mountains are complemented by opportunities for MICE groups to experience local communities, culture and ways of life.
- Nakhon Si Thammarat, in southern Thailand on 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 appeared in the 2025 report, while Hua Hin appeared in the 2024 edition.
Dr Supawan said MICE City certification provides a platform for each destination to generate wider economic value from its distinctive 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.
TCEB will work with the newly certified destinations in three areas:
Infrastructure & Connectivity
TCEB will build on the EEC MICE Sandbox model and develop an Area-based MICE Development Playbook 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.
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 event content. Sustainable event management will also be promoted through the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEMS).
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.
Thailand now has 16 certified MICE Cities: 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 work to maintain destination standards while strengthening Thailand’s nationwide MICE ecosystem.
Coming soon from HQ
HQ recently joined the Thailand Innovative Meetings Exchange (TIME 2026), exploring Bangkok and Khao Lak alongside international hosted buyers, media and content creators.Keep an eye out for our upcoming four-piece Thailand editorial package, covering TCEB’s wider strategy, the meetings economy and our meeting-planner perspective on both destinations.
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