As anticipation builds, citizens of Thailand are keeping their hopes high that Phuket will be chosen as the host destination for the Specialised Expo 2028. The final presentation and vote are looming, with a Thai delegation scheduled to make their pitch to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on June 21.
During their presentation, the delegation will underscore why Phuket, a southern resort island province, is the ideal location for the expo. They will also learn when the voting process will take place to determine the winner, according to Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).
Thailand’s proposed theme for the expo is “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity,” which comes with an estimated budget of around 4.18 billion baht. The event is planned to run from March 21 to June 20, 2028. Chiruit predicts that the expo will attract approximately 7 million visitors from 106 countries, and has the potential to generate up to 50 billion baht in economic value.
Beyond its immense economic impact, the expo is also set to play a crucial role in promoting Thailand’s health and medical tourism sector. Phuket is currently undergoing upgrades to become a global health and medical tourism city, says Chiruit. In the race to secure the 2028 expo, Phuket faces steep competition from three other cities: Belgrade in Serbia, Barcelona in Spain, and Minnesota in the United States.
Chiruit expressed confidence in the delegation’s final presentation but acknowledged that the vote could be a challenge. Over 120 BIE member nations will be participating in the voting process. “Keep your fingers crossed and we will see if Phuket can win the selection or not,” he urged.
Previously, the BIE’s selection committee visited Phuket to assess its preparedness for hosting the expo. If Phuket is declared the winner, it will become the first country in Southeast Asia to hold such an event. In preparation for the crucial vote, Pattanachai Singhavara, director of TCEB’s southern region office, revealed that a night reception will take place in Paris on June 16. The reception is designed to provide an opportunity for BIE member countries and Thailand to discuss Phuket’s readiness to take on the challenge of hosting the Specialised Expo 2028.
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