Doubts remain about Thailand’s possible hosting of the World Expo. Rumours circulate that the government is ready to give up due to the high cost of organizing such an event.
BANGKOK- On February 17, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was visiting Ayutthaya and the site selected to host the World Expo 2020. The trip was organized with media to reaffirm the country’s commitment as dissonant voices about the event are getting stronger. Thailand is amid five countries (Brazil, Turkey, Russia and the UAE) to bid for hosting the mega-event. The candidacy is however marred with doubts about the Kingdom’s capacity to really organize the mega-event. Thailand recent fiasco of securing proper facilities at a brand new stadium for the FUTSAL at the end of 2012 probably reinforced the skeptical mood about the World Expo in Ayutthaya. The selected site in the old Thai capital would comprise 384 hectares of land for the main venue.
While Prime Minister Yingluck reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to process further with the World Expo bidding, the Bangkok Post reported last week that Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, a PM’s Office minister, had insisted into having another in-depth study about the benefits of hosting the World Expo and if it was worth the investment.
A previous study done by Kasetsart University indicated that Thailand would have to invest up to 75 billion Baht (US$ 2.5 billion) just to build infrastructures, facilities, rail links and roads. “We’ve said several times the use of taxpayers’ money must be reasonable, worthwhile and beneficial to the nation,” said Mr. Bunsongphaisan. “If the study finds it is, then we should move ahead with the plan. If not, we should not.”
Another research is currently conducted by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) –the agency in charge of the bidding an project- about World Expo possible income. The huge success of the Shanghai World Expo essentially relied on China domestic market which generated 80% of all visitors to the site. Thailand projects a revenue boost of THB 60 billion (US$ 2 billion) from hosting the Expo.
“We admit it will be a tough task if we run this event in the same manner and have to generate more than 10 billion baht from ticket sales”, explained Mr. Bunsongphaisan to the Bangkok Post. Last week, nine delegates of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Enquiry Mission met with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but some media reported that they were anything except impressed by Thailand’s efforts to secure the Expo… Thailand proposed theme for the World Expo is “Redefine Globalisation: Balanced Life, Sustainable Living”.
Thailand will make another presentation in June while the winner of the World Expo 2020 is due to be announced next November.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
