Thailand is fully prepared to host the Phuket Expo 2028, as the final vote is approaching at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) General Assembly in France on June 21st, 2023, Thailand’s foreign affairs ministry announced.
In 2021 the Thai cabinet approved 4.18 billion baht for spending on the promotion of Phuket as the host for Specialised Expo 2028. Thailand is now among 5 final candidate countries competing to host, including the U.S., Argentina, Serbia and Spain. The vote will be held among the 124 BIE member countries.
Thailand is a candidature to host the Specialised Expo 2028 in Phuket, under the concept of “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”, with a 100% eco-friendly event organisation.
Phuket was selected as the candidate venue for the event because of its two important advantages: the uniqueness of Phuket with everything being easily accessible and its status as a major tourism city with complete infrastructure.
Thailand will commit to building sustainability with 3 objectives, including being a medical centre by having the International Research and Development Centre, having a sustainable park ecosystem and facilities to support the organisation of various events
Director General of the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Cherdchai Chaivaivid, said that, if Phuket is chosen as a the host, the province will become an international health centre and a world-class medical tourism destination.
Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Director General of the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (middle), was giving the media briefing about Phuket Expo 2028 at the Thailand’s foreign affairs ministry on June 8, 2023.
Each finalist country has their own strengths, which counts as a big challenge, said Cherdchai. He believes that Thailand has its own strengths as a country that has been accepted by the international community as not having bilateral relational conflicts. Consequently, we can count this factor as a plus.
“Another strength for Thailand is that we are the one and only candidate in Asia this year, and the first ever candidates from Southeast Asia, which will be a strong and competitive reason for BIE to consider,” Cherdchai added.
Whether Phuket will be chosen or not, he emphasised that being a candidate will benefit Thailand, as a Public, Private, People and Partnership project is in place to make Phuket the world’s most sustainable city, not just the resort island. This project will continue whether or not Thailand is chosen.
“No matter how the vote turns out. Phuket will benefit from this bid. These strengths and competitive factors will be a legacy for Phuket, to further develop and achieve their goals of being Southeast Asia’s medical hub and a platform for sustainability,” Cherdchai added.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) estimates that Thailand can benefit financially from hosting the event, with 4.92 million people, both Thai and foreign participants, putting more than 49.2 million baht into circulation, while creating more than 113,439 jobs.
If the plan goes accordingly, the expo will take place between March 20th and June 17th, 2028 on an area of 22.56 hectares in Thalang District of Phuket Province.
By Kitipat Chuensukjit and Warissara Sae-han
