According to Andrew Jacka, President of the Thai Spa Association, the Asean Economic Community integration in the next three years could bring about new opportunities and much greater challenges for entrepreneurs as spa tourism is a big business in Asia Pacific that creates stiff competition. Thailand current has the largest spa industry in the Asia Pacific region, but has strong completion from Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia, with Vietnam and Cambodia also expected to take market share, and the Chinese & Indian markets growing rapidly “Local entrepreneurs need to keep abreast of the changing industry landscape, make the most of all educational opportunities, further increase operating standards and promote greater innovation, if Thailand is to maintain its status as Asia’s spa service hub,” he said. With sponsorship support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Thailand Exhibition and Convention Bureau (TECB), the Department of Skill Development and the Department of Tourism as well as the Office of the Consumer Protection Board,  the Thai Spa Association believes that the World Spa & Well-being Convention 2012 was the largestinternational gateway to spa and well-being industries ever seen. Organised under the concept of ‘Education, Standards and Innovation’, the event was a truly world-class professional platform, offering a myriad of opportunities to network, build business connections and be inspired with a wide selection of seminars and conferences plus the demonstration of innovative technologies, products and services in the activity zone. The Association’s vice president, Patthiraporn Kaewsanan, said one of the must-see highlights during the event at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre was the inaugural presentation of the Thailand Spa & Well-being Awards to the best local entrepreneurs of the year which are categorised into 18 sections. From traveldailynews