BITEC stresses home market - Oct 00

Bangkok <p>Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is to refocus its promotional efforts on the local Thai market following the appointment of Mr Paul Elliott as general manager. <p>Mr Elliott, former manager of the Bangkok Convention Centre, argued that his immediate priority is to overcome a lack of awareness in Thailand of BITEC's facilities and capabilities. <p>"I have arrived at a time when the country is starting to move out of recession, but the Thai market is not particularly aware of the large, world-class facilities we have at BITEC," Mr Elliott said. <p>"In the past, we in Thailand have focused too much on international customers, ignoring the high percentage of business that comes from the local market. <p>"Organisations such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand are promoting Thailand internationally as a destination and we don't possess all the necessary resources in the global marketplace." <p>"But we will continue to work with them to give us a far better spread internationally. <p>"My main efforts will be focused locally, to ensure we capture our fair share of the Thailand market." <p> In addition to raising awareness for BITEC's core exhibitions operation, Mr Elliott wanted to promote the venue's multi-base capacity for smaller corporate meetings, trade fairs and product launches.