Songkhla MICE City for Serving Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Tourism

Abstract

          This paper aims to investigate context of Songkhla regions and analyze the capacity of MICE industry to serve Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) tourism.  In Thailand, MICE development is a significant part of growing tourism industry which generates employment ability and distributes revenues to both direct and indirect businesses.  The study found that Songkhla is the center of trade, investment, services, and transportation of the lower south of Thailand.  In addition, Songkhla is a gateway of Southern Thailand for commercial, business investment, tourism services and hub of transportations with the neighboring countries.  Songkhla is the well-known province for tourist attractions for domestic and international tourists. Consequently, the Songkhla is renowned of “a center of southern borders with variety of cultures”. The results of MICE capacity analysis show that Songkhla is a destination of meetings, seminars, trade shows, and events for IMT-GT tourists.  Especially these IMT-GT tourists are from the 5 provinces in southern borders of Thailand, and Malaysia. That is, Hat Yai city has full facilities, convention centers, convention hotels, and competent organizers.  In addition, Hat Yai is vibrant city and full of events to serve MICE tourists all year round. On the other hand, the old city within Songkhla province is an outstanding city for its cultural contexts and historical tourism attractions, which are also contributes the venues to various tourism stakeholders.  As a result, government tourism policy also enhances the province image under the campaign of “Songkhla fantastic awesomeness all year round”. The campaign boosts tourism, events, and trade shows within Songkhla. Private sectors also adopt this tourism policy for swiftly developing infrastructure including hotels/accommodations, and related venues in response to serving the fast growth of meetings, seminars, trade shows, and incentive tourism to be ready to hold events in provincial, national until international level.