Phuket opts for Expo 2028 : Life, harmony, sustainability

Phuket is competing to host the 2028 Specialized Exhibition, doing emphasis on the theme of life, harmony and sustainable development, while positioning itself against international contenders.

The island province of Phuket, a famous tourist destination in Thailand, is competing with cities in the United States, Spain, Argentina and Serbia to host the 2028 Specialized Exhibition. The official presentation of its bid will take place later this month.

Cherdchai Chaivaivid, Director General of the Department of International Economic Affairs and head of the Phuket Expo 2028 bid team, revealed that his proposal will be presented to members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) on June 21 in Paris, France. The choice of the host city will be made by the 124 members present with the right to vote.

The proposed theme for the exhibition, “The Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”, underlines the importance of people, planet and prosperity as pillars of sustainable growth.

Cherdchai explained that Phuket’s strengths lie in the goodwill of the province, the strong collaboration of all stakeholders, especially the local communities, and the aspiration to leverage their successes beyond the expo. In addition, a primary objective is to organize this prestigious event while minimizing the environmental impact.

If selected, Phuket would make history as the first city in Southeast Asia to host this event. The province also wants to take advantage of the exhibition to promote itself as a center for medical services, conferences and green spaces.

The MFP and the governor of Bangkok meet to discuss important matters

It is estimated that the event could stimulate some 50 billion baht of local economic activity and create some 110,000 jobs. The expo, scheduled to run from March 21 to June 17, 2028, is expected to attract some 4.9 million visitors.

The proposed theme for the exhibition, “The Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”, underlines the importance of people, planet and prosperity as pillars of sustainable growth.

Regardless of the outcome, Cherdchai reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to developing its provinces to distinguish itself on the world stage. He stressed that these developments will demonstrate Thailand’s readiness and cement its position as a leading contender to host large-scale international events.