More funds needed for convention centre

CHIANG MAI, 15 June 2012: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will ask for a budget of Bt290 million for additional construction at the Chiang Mai Convention Centre complex and also to market the facility.

Ministry permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said it would be part of the 2013 fiscal year budget and requires government approval.

“Bt190 million will be used to build a storehouse for equipment, accommodation for staff, golf vehicles and a waste-storage building, while the rest Bt100 million will be used to hire a professional operator to run the centre in the initial phase.”

He confirmed that the Tourism Authority of Thailand will be responsible for management of the centre and the ministry would not interfere in that task.

The Bt2 billion complex is almost ready to open with interior decoration and finishing work due to be completed by September. It should be ready to host events from December this year.

Under the plan, TAT will form a joint venture with a convention centre operator to run the centre. At first it will host local events to run-in the facilities before bidding for international or regional events.

However, it takes considerable time to create the terms of reference (ToR) and go through the bid process ,which will leave the launch and early management phase entirely in the hands of TAT.

“We would prefer to hand over the project to a professional company to ensure there is a return on the investment over 25 to 30 years,” he said.

Earlier, NCC Management and Development Company, that manages the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, showed interest in the project, ,

The complex had an estimated build cost of  Bt1.8 billion, but during the former Abhisit Vejjajiva government an additional Bt223,340,000, was allocated to the project,  3 May 2011.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports signed a contact with EMC and Power Line to build the Chiang Mai Convention Centre, 1 October 2008. The project should have been completed by 1 November last year with a construction period of 762 days.

Fact file

Contractor: EMC public Co Ltd and Power Line Engineering Public Co Ltd.

Timetable: 1 October 2008 to 1 November 2011 (762 days).

Property: 326-rais site.

Investment: Bt1,867,150,000.

Facilities: Plenary hall capacity 3,000 people; 32 meeting rooms; space for 476 exhibition booths.

Location: Nong Hor, Chang Puak, Muang district in Chiang Mai close to the 700th Anniversary Stadium and Chiang Mai University.