General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, has stated his support for Phuket’s ambition to host an international expo in 2028, stating that the big event may produce up to 40 billion baht in income for Thailand.
The bid, known as Phuket Expo 2028, would see the event take place from March 20 to June 17 2028 in Thalang district, with the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
According to the prime, the 2028 Expo event would provide economic advantages and highlight Thailand as a multi-industry center for aviation, tourism, and health care.
Thailand is competing for the big event with the United States, Argentina, Serbia, and Spain. During the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) meeting in June, the monarchy will have the opportunity to present its candidacy to the 171 member countries of the BIE. This week, state agencies will gather to further review the concept and presentation.
If Thailand’s application is successful, the expo is estimated to boost the country’s GDP by 39.3 billion baht in 2028, create over 113,439 jobs, and produce an additional 9.51 billion baht in tax receipts.
On March 19, the prime minister visited the southern province to present his “Andaman Ready” vision, which included a demonstration of how to make the traditional ar pong dish, a new tourist route in Koh Phra Thong, a study of mangrove forest ecology, and activities to increase sustainable local incomes.
