The proposal, whose construction is expected to begin next year on a 160-hectare plot,
has been met with scepticism by industry leaders, citing instability among senior government officials and a new government to be elected at this year’s general election as factors that could possibly mean a change of heart on the project.
“The new investment will kill the industry,” said incoming Trade Exhibition Association
president, Patrapee Chinachoti, who added there were already too many sites available
in Bangkok.
Bangkok has four major trade exhibition centres, the Bangkok International Trade and
Exhibition Centre (BITEC), IMPACT, the Queen SirikitNational Convention Centre and the recently opened Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World.
Total space available in the capital currently stands at more than 200,000sqm.
Patrapee added: “The plan is copying AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, but the difference is the city of Hong Kong is very near the venue. If you have a venue at Suvarnabhumi Airport,
delegates will need to see Bangkok or Thailand anyway, but they are far away.”
