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Bangkok to host World Travel & Culture Expo 2026 this October
Bangkok will host the World Travel & Culture Expo 2026 (WTCE 2026) from 29 to 31 October at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, bringing together tourism, culture, sports, entertainment and creative industries under one roof. The event is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) and Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group.
Strengthening Thailand's role as a regional hub
The organisers say the expo is designed to promote tourism, trade and investment while reinforcing Thailand's position as a leading tourism and entertainment hub in ASEAN.
Opening the launch event, Pasakorn Rangsiwatanasak, Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, said WTCE 2026 reflects Thailand's strategy of using tourism, culture, sport, entertainment and the creative economy as drivers of economic growth. The event is expected to encourage investment, strengthen international partnerships and enhance Thailand's role as a gateway connecting ASEAN with global markets.
The launch was attended by TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, representatives of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Guangdong Grandeur International Exhibition Group, the Tourist Police Bureau and several public and private sector partners.
Building on Thai-Chinese cooperation
WTCE 2026 highlights the close cooperation between Thailand and China and follows the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event also supports China's "Thousands of Sails Go to Sea" initiative, which encourages Chinese companies to expand internationally and strengthen business cooperation throughout Thailand, China and the wider ASEAN region.
According to TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the expo supports the authority's "Value over Volume" strategy and its "Healing is the New Luxury" campaign by promoting meaningful travel experiences, sustainability and higher-quality tourism revenue.
She said the event will also create new opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange and business partnerships while helping connect Thai tourism businesses with international investors, technology providers and creative industry partners.
Five specialised exhibitions under one roof
Held under the theme "Smartly Link the World", WTCE 2026 will feature five specialised exhibitions covering key sectors of the visitor economy.
The Thailand Amusement and Attraction Parks Expo (TAAPE) will focus on amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment and safety standards.
The Thailand (Bangkok) Billiards Expo (TBE) will showcase billiards, snooker and indoor leisure sports.
The ASEAN LED Display, Prolight, Sound and Entertainment Technology Expo (ASE) will present the latest developments in LED displays, professional lighting, sound systems and entertainment technology.
The Asia Film, Television and Equipment Technology Expo (APE) will highlight production equipment, virtual production technologies, extended reality and intellectual property licensing.
The ASEAN Global IP Expo will focus on intellectual property and business opportunities within the creative industries.
Platform for tourism and business growth
The event builds on the success of the inaugural edition in 2025, which featured 300 exhibitors from 23 countries, attracted participants from 36 countries and achieved a reported 98 per cent success rate in business negotiations and partnership development.
A panel discussion on future tourism trends held during the launch explored topics including visitor safety, sustainability, risk management and the use of immersive technologies to enhance the travel experience.
Chinese market remains Thailand's largest source market
China continues to be Thailand's largest international visitor market. Between 1 January and 20 July 2026, Thailand welcomed more than 2.87 million Chinese visitors, an increase of 14.76 per cent compared with the same period last year.
TAT expects more than 5.13 million arrivals from China in 2026, generating at least 288.4 billion Baht in tourism revenue. According to the organisers, WTCE 2026 will serve as an important platform for transforming this strong tourism demand into broader investment, trade and business cooperation across the region.
Image Credit: © TAT
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