The MICE City Summit, spearheaded by TCEB, celebrates its 10th anniversary, showcasing innovative collaborations in MICE city development. This collaboration between Prince of Songkla University (PSU), the Ministry of Interior, and the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) aims to produce highly skilled personnel and create a smart data ecosystem (City Data Intelligence).

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, Director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), revealed that, “TCEB has a policy to develop Thailand's MICE ecosystem to enhance its international competitiveness, particularly regarding the quality of MICE personnel and the upgrading of cities as event destinations. This is a crucial factor in Thailand's selection as a venue for international events. The collaboration between TCEB, the Ministry of Interior, Prince of Songkla University, and the Office of Vocational Education Commission as a strategic partnership to develop highly skilled personnel and upgrade the capabilities of the Thai MICE industry marks a new milestone in innovative collaboration encompassing policy, operations, and education, strengthening the foundation of Thailand's MICE ecosystem.” "This reflects the initiative and commitment to expanding the role of MICE from a business event to a development event, which can send a positive signal to Thailand, building credibility and confidence from the international MICE market as a destination that creates a high-value impact through MICE platforms," ??said Mr. Yosapol Venukoset, Secretary-General of the Office of Vocational Education Commission (OVEC).

Under the OVEC ONE Team policy, 'Learn Well, Be Happy,' and the principle of 'Do Good, Do It Right, Do It Now,' OVEC is ready to leverage the high-level expertise from Prince of Songkla University and policy innovations from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) as a crucial crucible in 'refining vocational education teachers' nationwide to become true architects of nation-building. We will use a borderless learning platform to cultivate vocational teachers into innovation leaders who can produce highly competent and ready-to-work new generations of practitioners, accurately meeting the needs of the MICE industry and the modern economy. This is a significant step for Thai vocational education, which will no longer be merely a follower but will be the main engine driving the potential of Thai people to the international stage. "We are ready to create a sustainable and stable economic impact for Thailand, from today and into the future."

Mr. Polpeera Suwannachawi, Deputy Minister of Interior, stated, "The Ministry of Interior believes that urban development in this century will no longer rely solely on traditional infrastructure or management practices. It must rely on the power of collaboration, data, knowledge, and mechanisms that truly connect the economy from the local to the national level. The MICE industry is one of the most powerful strategic tools to drive this mission because it not only generates income from events but also creates opportunities, jobs, upgrades local entrepreneurs, and distributes benefits to the grassroots economy in a tangible way. Collaboration is a declaration of a new era in Thailand's development, and the Ministry of Interior is ready to use the power of the state to connect all sectors to move forward together, to modernize, strengthen, and grow in a balanced manner based on the people."

Mr. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, said, "The Ministry of Interior, under the new 'Relieving Suffering, Promoting Well-being' strategy, is ready to upgrade the structure of local administration using the MICE platform as a key mechanism to break down inequality and drive the regional economy. We aim to create 'high-performing urban administrators' with a DNA of deep understanding of socio-geography." "To transform every major city across Thailand into a livable hub and turn communities into strong economic powerhouses, our ultimate goal is a measurable victory measured by increased income for people at the grassroots level and the equitable distribution of opportunities through an intelligent data system that aids in real-time policy decision-making. This collaboration is not just a typical cooperation project, but a reform of the Ministry of Interior into a strategic agency ready to elevate Thai localities to become world-class destinations with full pride."

Associate Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab, President of Prince of Songkla University (PSU), stated, "PSU is ready to announce the success of the 'Songkhla Model' as the largest Living Lab in the region, with a central hub for proactive development..." The Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau (SCEB), under the supervision of Prince of Songkla University (PSU), functions as a City CVB, elevating the city to the global stage. This has resulted in tangible achievements, as evidenced by its ranking in the GDS-Index 2025 as Thailand's No. 1 sustainable MICE city for three consecutive years, No. 3 in Asia, and No. 28 globally. Furthermore, it secured No. 7 globally for social progress and was recognized as a ‘World Festival & Event City’ (IFEA World Festival & Event City 2025). These global successes have been distilled into knowledge for educational reform through a credit bank system that breaks down all learning barriers. We are not just teaching; we are building an ecosystem for developing ‘high-performing MICE city managers’ who can think, act, and take immediate action. PSU is committed to using this successful model as a blueprint to upgrade the grassroots economy nationwide, driving Thailand to become a dignified and sustainable global hub for learning and events.

SCEB, as a government agency, has the mission to drive the development of MICE cities with the capacity to host international events. To make it one of the selling points in bidding for the right to host events in Thailand, the MICE City Summit has been initiated and organized since 2016, giving provinces the opportunity to participate.

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