Post-expo area development to turn facilities built for Expo 2028 Phuket into medical and wellness offerings is a key priority in Thailand's bid. Photo Credit: TCEB
Thailand is vying against Argentina, Serbia, Spain and the US to host
the Specialised Expo 2028 in Phuket. Should Phuket be selected, the
island would be the first city in Southeast Asia to host the world-class
expo.
Themed “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”, the
Expo is proposed to be held from 20 March and 17 June 2028 on a site
located in Mai Khao Beach, part of Phuket International Medical Tourism
City.
Some 106 countries are expected to participate in the expo, with a
minimum of 7 million expo visitation and a revenue of 50 billion baht
projected for Thailand.
The expo is also expected to generate 110,000 jobs, increase
Thailand’s gross domestic product by 39.357 billion baht, and raise tax
revenues by 9.512 billion baht.
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), representing the
Thai government, has worked with Phuket since 2020 to prepare for the
candidacy of Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand.
“The key priority for BIE is post-expo area development," TCEB
president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya. "For this, we are highlighting
that the facilities built for Expo 2028 Phuket will be re-developed
into the World Medical and Wellness Center with provisions for
public-private partnerships in healthcare and wellness, education, and
sustainable living."
Following TCEB and Phuket's first country presentation to the Bureau
International des Expositions (BIE) in June, nine members of the enquiry
mission recently visited Thailand in July 2022 to evaluate the Phuket’s
candidacy to host Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand.
A second country presentation is set to be made to BIE in November.
BIE will reveal the finalists after the second country presentation in November and the winning host country in June 2023.