Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, and representatives of the country’s private sector have recently convened to discuss collaborative efforts supporting the nation’s bid to host Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand. The meeting was held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok and aimed to strengthen Thailand’s candidacy for the international event. Thailand is up against four other candidate countries and will learn if it has been selected to host Expo 2028 in June 2023.
Mr Charnvirakul, who also serves as the chairman of the Thailand Candidature Committee, told private sector leaders that the government had committed more than 4.18 billion baht to the event’s budget. During his opening remarks, he explained that hosting the specialized Expo in Phuket would bring numerous benefits to the country. The event is expected to attract 4.92 million visitors from 106 countries, generating over 49.231 billion baht in revenue and more than 39.357 billion baht in value to the country’s GDP. Mr Charnvirakul highlighted that the Expo would enhance the development of Phuket and surrounding provinces, distribute spending from foreign visitors to other parts of the country, and promote Thailand’s reputation as the Medical Hub of Southeast and South Asia.
Moreover, the buildings and structures constructed for the event will be repurposed into a Comprehensive International Medical and Public Health Service Centre, International Geriatric Centre, Jairak Centre (Palliative Care), and Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre. Vachira Phuket Hospital will oversee the development of these centres, along with an international convention centre and ecological park on the site.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), also spoke at the meeting, presenting the progress made thus far by the Thai Candidature Committee for the Expo. Mr Chiruit noted that TCEB, along with the team Thailand, which comprises the Ministry of Public Health, Phuket Province, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, are actively promoting the country’s bid to host the Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand both domestically and internationally.
The next crucial event in the campaign is the “Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand Symposia,” which will take place on February 22, 2023, in Paris, France. BIE committees and representatives from member states will be invited to attend, and the symposium will showcase the central theme, the country’s stance, and the potential and readiness of Phuket and Thailand to hold the Expo under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.”
The Thai private sector is now also supporting the campaign. The Thai Chamber of Commerce recently met with provincial chambers of commerce, trade associations, and members of the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce (YEC) to discuss ways to show support for the bid. Leading corporations are also providing support for public relations initiatives. The Siam Piwat Group supplies media platforms at ICONSIAM and Siam Paragon for publicity, while KASIKORNBANK (KBank) promotes the campaign on its ATMs’ screens nationwide. SCG is also supporting the production and dissemination of public relations materials.
In conclusion, Thailand’s bid to host the Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand is gaining public and private support.
Written by: SupapornĀ Pholrach (Joom)
