by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai
According to the lates news on the Bangkok Post web-site, Thailand will nominate the old capital of Ayutthaya as the site for World Expo 2020.
The cabinet yesterday approved Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart’s proposal to nominate the central province as the World Expo Site, reasoning that the ancient city has the strongest potential among the candidate locations of Chon Buri, Chanthaburi, Phetchaburi, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The cabinet also approved in principle a 300-million-baht budget to undertake the bid and to campaign for support from other countries, Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said. Another 100 million baht from the 2012 fiscal budget will be spent promoting the expo among Thai people. Ayutthaya will propose the “Balanced Life, Sustainable Living” concept when bidding on behalf of Thailand to be the host country.
Thailand will have to compete with many well-known cities such as Sao Paulo Canton, Copenhagen, Ankara, Cape Town and Dubai. The United States will propose a multi-city approach and Brisbane is also a key contender.
The next World Expo is scheduled to be staged in Milan/Italy in 2015.
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) President President Akapol Sorasuchart said Thailand would be ready to bid for the hosting of the World Expo 2020 before October. The deadline is set for April 2012, while the winner will be announced in 2015. Thailand needs to get votes from at least 80 countries from a total of 157 to be the host. We will discuss our international promotion activities with the Foreign and Commerce Ministries,” Mr Akapol said.
The Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand will be a focal location of the expo with total space of 1,200 rai. The government plans to buy 200-300 rai of nearby land under a budget of 1.8 billion baht, if it cannot expropriate agricultural land.
The Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA) strongly believes that the hosting of the World Expo 2020 would help promote Thailand in terms of investment, tourism and meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (MICE) activities.
