BANGKOK, Thailand – Songkhla has been awarded the IFEA World Festival & Event City 2025 title by the International Festivals and Events Association during a ceremony in Palm Springs, California. The recognition places the southern province on the global stage as both a festival city and an emerging hub for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE).
Songkhla Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom led the provincial delegation to the event, joined by Pattanachai Singhavara, Director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Southern Office. TCEB South was credited with driving collaboration between government agencies, Prince of Songkla University, the private sector, and local communities to elevate the province’s profile internationally.
The IFEA award recognizes cities that set high standards in festival and event management through infrastructure, creativity, and the ability to generate economic, social, and cultural impact. Songkhla was selected for meeting these criteria and for successfully translating its strategic vision into measurable achievements.
Officials expect the award to boost investment, attract international event organizers, and generate revenue and jobs for the province. It also enhances Songkhla’s cultural identity, boosting the city’s reputation as a source of creative innovation and enhancing Thailand’s status as a festival and MICE hub in Southeast Asia.
The recognition is also viewed as a turning point for Songkhla, opening the way for greater international engagement and long-term growth. (NNT)
