An important university centre and one of the largest cities of Isan, Khon Kaen remains little known from international travellers. Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is now ready to advertise the destination for MICE organizers.
BANGKOK- Combining modern infrastructure and traditional Thai charm, the city of Khon Kaen is poised to become one of Thailand’s top business event’s destinations. With 115,000 inhabitants, the city is one of the largest in Northeastern Thailand (Isan region). And its relatively central location, half-way between Bangkok and the border to Laos has turned Khon Kaen into an important regional hub of commerce, investment, and transportation as well as the gateway to Northeastern Thailand, an area rich in natural and cultural attractions.
Due to its geographic position, Khon Kaen already played host to international conferences at regional level such as ASEAN Regional Forums and some United Nations meetings.
As an up-and-coming events’ destination, Khon Kaen features the region’s largest convention centre, the Golden Jubilee convention hall at Khon Kaen University, which can cater to as many as 5,000 visitors with space of 3,000 sqm, while the Convention Hall @ Central Plaza Khon Kaen having the area of 2,600 sqm which can host 1,500 – 4,000 guests. More intimate venues include Art and Culture Museum: Khon Kaen University and Lakmuang Gallery Khon Kaen, both of which can serve groups of around 30-50 attendees.
To facilitate the development of Khon Kaen, the airport has been granted an international status. So far, they are no international connections with flights onlyu offered from anNext to Thai Airways, recently Thai AirAsia recently returned to Khon Kaen. The airport is now served by 32 weekly flights offering capacity for 8,000 passengers. Another transportation option are trains with five daily rail trips. They are also alternatively many daily bus connections from Bangkok as well as a large number of regional cities.
Khon Kaen offers now a variety of accommodation options, including the Pullman Khon Kaen Raja Orchid, the Charoen Thani Princess, and the Charm Boutique Resort. In total, Khon Kaen features nearly 5,000 hotel rooms near both meeting venues, transportation centers, and numerous cultural, historical, and natural attractions. These include the spectacular Nam Phong National Park and the traditional Thai Silk Pavilion.
Khon Kaen has been best known to visitors as the home of mud mee cotton and silk textiles, the Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Excavation site (where the world’s smallest dinosaur was discovered), and the Khon Kaen National Museum, which houses Angkor-era carvings. The city is also renowned for its outstanding spicy Isan-style cuisine, which many enjoy while picnicking at nearby Khaen Nakhon Lake.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
![[PR] PR_Ascott and Vimut Hospital_2024](https://www.traveldailynews.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PR-PR_Ascott-and-Vimut-Hospital_2024-400x265.jpg)
