Thailand ranked second in the world for events: Pacific World

Thailand is the second most in-demand event destination in the world after Spain this year, according to a report released by destination and event management network Pacific World. 

The kingdom moves up a notch this year in the annual listings compiled from the number of RFPs and bookings received by Pacific World for 2019 and beyond. 

The regional markets are among the world's top 10 most demanded destinations named by Pacific World, while Spain again takes the top spot for the EMEA and global lists.

Top 10 most demanded destinations worldwide:     Top 5 most demanded cities in Asia

1. Spain                                                                  1. Thailand
2. Thailand                                                             2. China
3. China                                                                 3. Indonesia
4. Indonesia                                                           4. Singapore
5. Singapore                                                          5. Hong Kong
6. Peru
7. Hong Kong
8. United Kingdom
9. South Korea
10. Indochina

Pacific World attributes Thailand's strong showing to the government-backed Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau which focuses on delineating audiences and is quick to adapt to new social and sustainability trends. 

"Recent news, like the results of the Global Destination Sustainability Index—which put Bangkok as the no.2 destination in Asia, will enhance the image of that city and help appeal to a new generation of planners who prioritise environment and social sustainabilty when choosing destinations," said Patricia Silvio, global marketing manager of Pacific World.

She emphasised that all the top destinations have strong convention bureaus and a clear destination development strategy, besides modern infrastructure and convenient access. 

Meanwhile, the launch of new air routes to new destinations in China is expected to further boost China's appeal, according to the report. 

The Indonesian government has taken a similar strategy to develop new destinations, including continuous investments in popular cities such as Bali and Lombok.