Bangkok,, Three agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), are responding to the government's policy of exempting 90-day visas starting today (15 July) to facilitate MICE travelers and drive Thailand MICE One Stop Service, a coordination center to facilitate the MICE industry, pushing Thailand to become a destination for business events and international festivals to boost the economy. Mr. Jirudd Isarangkun Na Ayudhya, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, said that according to the government's urgent policy to promote Thailand as a center for organizing world-class exhibitions and festivals to generate income and stimulate the economy, as well as to facilitate the entry of business travelers and participants into the country, TCEB, as a government agency with the mission of being a National Bidder or bidder on behalf of the Thai government, is ready to implement the policy using the driving mechanism that TCEB and its partner agencies in both the public and private sectors have established, namely the Thailand MCE One Stop Service or the coordination center for facilitating the MICE industry. The role of Thailand MICE One Stop Service is to facilitate the entry of international MICE travelers to reduce steps and time in important processes such as visa application, immigration and airport reception, as well as facilitating coordination to import goods, equipment and tools for organizing events in Thailand. Part of the drive for Thailand MICE One Stop Service is the immigration facilitation service for international MICE guests at the airport or MICE Lane Service, which is currently available at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport. In 2023, there were 211 events requesting to use the MICE Lane, serving 6,684 MICE travelers. In the first 6 months of 2024 (January-June), there were 160 events requesting to use the MICE Lane, serving 9,701 MICE travelers. In re sponse to the government's policy, TCEB is expanding the MICE Lane service to Phuket and Chiang Mai International Airports, two major MICE cities in Thailand. This year, it has been temporarily opened and will be permanently opened next year. In 2026, it will be opened at Udon Thani Airport to accommodate the number of travelers who will attend the Royal Flora Expo. Therefore, joining hands with 3 partner agencies is a preparation for VIT, which will travel to attend many more major events that it has a part in inviting to be held in Thailand in the next 2-3 years, such as the IDF World Diabetes Congress 2025, the IMF-World Bank Group meeting in 2026, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference or GSTC 2026, which will attract tens of thousands of participants. There are also many other big events that are being brought to Thailand in line with government policy, such as the Formula E competition in Chiang Mai, the Formula One competition, and WorldPride 2030. Mr. Worawut Pongprapaphan, Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the Department of Consular Affairs is ready to facilitate visas for participants and organizers of MICE by expanding the e-Visa system to all Thai embassies and consulates by the end of 2024, including setting new measures and guidelines for visa issuance to promote tourism and stimulate the economy. He is confident that the measures to extend the total number of days by 90 days and others will be able to support and facilitate MICE travelers and general tourists to enter Thailand even more. In addition to the 93 countries, there are also measures to increase groups that are not in these countries to receive a 15-day visa exemption and a 180-day visa for study visits. Dr. Peerathi Kitmanawat, President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), said that AOT, as the operator of 6 major airports, namely Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Chiang Mai Airport, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai Airport, Phuket Airport, and Hat Yai Airport, is the first gateway to welcome travelers from around the world to Thailand. It also facilitates and cooperates with relevant agencies to support the mission of welcoming MICE travelers, including organizing international events by allocating space within the passenger terminal, providing various facilities, and publicizing MICE events. It also helps to deliver convenient, fast, and safe travel experiences, which will promote and elevate the MICE industry and general tourism to grow. In order to join forces to attract more people to travel to Thailand, it will definitely bring investment into the country, generate income, and stimulate the country's economy as a whole. In addition, AOT has been approved for an investment budget of over 1 billion baht to improve various facilities for both inbound and outbound tourists within 30 minutes, with an average of 180,000 people per day and will increase to 210,000 people, which is considered to be able to support very well. And good news, soon a big concert by artist Lisa will be held in Thailand, which will attract foreigners to Thailand as well. Pol. Col. Chengron Rimphidee, Commander of Immigration Bureau 2, said that the Immigration Bureau has implemented the government's policy with 3 main measures: 1. Visa exemption and extension of stay according to government policy by specifying nationalities that are exempted from visas for tourism or short-term business work for 60 days, and can request to stay for another 30 days, which is an announcement for the original countries that received the privilege and adding new countries that received the privilege, including 93 countries that will be announced from 15 July onwards, granting the Visa on Artival (VOA) privilege and adding a new type of visa, Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). 2. Screening measures using technology to facilitate under the security principle, such as the APPS advance screening system that can check in advance from the country of departure whether passengers have information on arrest warran ts or persons under surveillance and are prohibited persons under the Immigration Act or not. The development of automatic passport screening channels to support Thais and foreigners in the E-passport group in the future is a search. 3. Management measures to increase personnel at every screening channel during peak hours and coordinate with the office to organize special channels specifically for important MICE travelers. In the past, people would see long lines of people waiting to pass through the screening, but now there will be no long lines. The immigration system has been improved and completed in a short period of time. - Source: Thai News Agency