TCEB pursues World Expo dream

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau board of directors have approved a plan to establish a feasibility committee,  the first step to making a bid for World Expo 2020.

The committee will create a comprehensive proposal that will be forwarded to the Thai Cabinet for consideration in February 2010.

Heading the committee is TCEB board advisor, Phornsiri Manoharn, who was named chairperson. She retired from the TAT governorship, last April and has since held the honorary post of Pacific Asia Travel Association chairperson, a position that will end mid-April, 2010.

Other committee members will include TCEB president, Akapol Sorasuchart, who will act as secretary along with yet-to- be-designated representatives from the Department of Export Promotion, Department of Information, Thailand Incentives and Conventions Association, Thai Exhibitions Association and Thai Hotels Association.

The committee first task is to identify a working direction, estimate budgets, positive factors and obstacles, and decide on theme options that will be appropriate for 2020.

If the committee fails to gain approval for a World Exp bid, it will have in hand a comparative study and bid option for the International Expo, during 2022-2033, which is a smaller version of World Expo.

Mr Akapol is confident the committee can deliver a suitable proposal for the Cabinet to consider as early as next February.

“We will ask the Cabinet to approve the project and set up a steering committee which will include various government units with the Prime Minister and deputy prime minister as co-chair,” said Mr Akapol.

Based on TCEB’s estimates, World Expo 2020 will cost the government about Bt20 billion. Cost breakdown: 0.2% for a feasibility study; 0.8% for bidding proposal; 42% for infrastructure development; 30% for venue construction; 15% for surrounding area development; 7% for accommodation construction and 5% for public relations and road shows.

TCEB claims the event could earn Bt167 billion in direct income, based on 30 million domestic and international visitors paying an entrance fee of Bt200 per head per day as well as spending during the event.