As part of the 88th UFI Global Congress in Rotterdam, UFI held an Asia Pacific Chapter meeting on Zoom. With the majority of Asian members unable to travel, this meeting provided members with an important opportunity to (virtually) gather and discuss the latest developments in the global pandemic and its impact on the exhibition industry in Asia.
UFI’s Regional Director in Asia, Mark Cochrane, updated members on UFI’s recent activities in Asia along with a summary of upcoming events, educational initiatives and newly released research reports.
Members from around the region shared updates from markets such as Australia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong to name a few. Current UFI President, Monica Lee-Muller and In-Coming UFI President, Michael Duck were also on the call and both of them addressed the meeting offering words of support and optimism.
EEIA News from Brussels
New travel recommendations by European Commission – to be adopted by Council
The European Commission has refreshed its recommendations for intra EU travel as well as for travel into the EU. The main element is that a mix of country-based and person-based approach shall be applied in the future to avoid closing of borders for non-essential travel and to have harmonised rules across Europe as well as for travel into the EU. For travel from outside the EU, the Commission recommends all countries to accept the WHO vaccines. Digital Covid certificates shall be updated concerning validity dates and to reflect the booster shots – ideally with the same rules everywhere. More than 80 countries worldwide have adopted or applied for the European digital app solution, making it a global standard for travel.
EEIA has elaborated a Position Paper in response to the recommendations and calls upon all national associations to lobby at their level to avoid fragmentation and achieve a harmonised approach across Europe.
Education, vocational training, reskilling and upskilling of staff is of utmost importance in order to achieve the transition to a green and digital economy – generally speaking. For this aim, the European Commission has worked on a very general Pact for Skills
For the Tourism Ecosystem, that comprises business travel, exhibitions and events, a specific Pact for Skills is being elaborated in co-creation with the stakeholders and will be launched in the beginning of next year. EEIA has participated in several workshops, provided input and will support the Pact for the exhibition and events ecosystem. It will be implemented via several funds through the Member States. Therefore, we recommend to all members and national associations to get in touch already now with their national Ministries of Education and Labour as well as their regional authorities to understand how support for education and training will be dispatched and how to access the funds for general or sector specific measures. As soon as the final version is available, EEIA will share it with more specific advise.
TCEB – An Update
Come Co-Create Unlimited Opportunities with Us in Thailand.
Plentiful business opportunities are rising in Thailand and ASEAN region. It’s good time for exhibition stakeholders to co-create the rosy future of our industry and thus grow your business and prosperity together in Thailand.
Thailand is considered by many as an entry point to the ASEAN market and beyond, thanks to the country’s business‑friendly policies, technological advancement and well‑connected infrastructure in addition to its strategic geographic location.
“Thailand 4.0” focusing on S-Curve industries has created a next generation growth area. Ongoing mega-investment on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as well as the Cambodia-Vietnam-Thailand Economic Corridor (CVTEC) are being undertaken to support Thailand of becoming ASEAN technological, manufacturing and service hub with strong connectivity to its neighbours and the ASEAN region, representing tremendous opportunities to develop high-value services particularly MICE, medical and wellness sectors as well as logistics.
From January-September 2021, the combined value of foreign direct investment (FDI) project applications to the Board of Investment of Thailand is more than tripled to *USD 12.4 billion and accounted for 71.5% of the investment value, already higher than for the whole of 2020, and reflects foreign investors’ sustained confidence. Since the reopening on 1 November 2021, 18 more airlines have resumed flights to and from Suvarnabhumi airport bringing more than 50,000 foreign visitors while **214,252 foreigners had applied for the Thailand Pass QR Code (as of 18 November 2021).
In this regard, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is fully committed to co-creating the exhibition industry’s future path through the national agenda with professionalism and trusting partners with an aim to drive both local and international organizers to win in ASEAN. TCEB is in pursuit of “World ICONIC Events”, working with international exhibition power groups and connecting with top-tier trade exhibitions. We are in the bidding process to host 3 world events in 3 different MICE cities of Thailand. We believe that the success will not only contribute positively to the exhibitions industry but also serve as a powerful economic growth driver as a whole.
