Major Convention Center Planned in Thailand

By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 3/7/2005

The Thai government has ordered the Tourism Authority of Thailand to speed up development efforts for the $72 million Phuket Intl. Convention and Exhibition Center. The construction is part of a massive effort to restore tourism on the country's resort island after the Dec. 26 tsunami's $1 billion toll on the Thai hospitality industry.

According to the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, the facility will span 3.3 million square feet, generate about $505 million in annual revenue and create $198 million in economic activity for the area each year.

The facility will be located in the Saphan Hin area in the southern portion of Phuket, a business district with major hotels that is classified as a meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition destination for Thailand. The region was not affected by the tsunami.

Construction will be conducted in phases of 2.2 million and 1.1 million sq. ft., and is projected for completion by the end of 2006, according to ASEAN.

Several conceptual designs, including one from TAT, are under consideration by the Thai government, said Pintipa Vadhanasiripond of the authority's investment department.

Although the facility is intended to draw tradeshows and meetings to the resort island, Ryan Klemm, Messe Duesseldorf North America senior project manager, said HOSPIMedica Thailand will continue to take place in Bangkok because of its central business location. However, he said, "If there's going to be any sort of way the Phuket market expands, it will be in the medical industry."

Phuket will be used as a model for future development of the Thai coastal tourism industry. Thai tourism groups are hoping to attract 20 million visitors to the region by 2008 through special vacation packages and discount airfares.

TAT is working closely with Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapallop, the Office of Tourism Development and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to launch a Thailand marketing campaign at ITB Berlin (Intl. Tourismus-Boerse) March 11–15.

The groups will also organize road shows throughout Europe to market the region, said TAT Gov. Juthamas Siriwan in a statement. "There will be heavy campaigning to bring people back into the country," Siriwan said.

TAT is also increasing efforts to attract tradeshow participants.