Thailand is the only country in Asia that has been successfully nominated
as an official candidate to host the World Expo 2020.
If the bid is successful it will be the first time for Thailand to earn the right to host
one of the world's oldest and largest international events
Thailand has long played a significant role in various inter-governmental organisations and regional alliances including the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). As an active member of these international organisations, Thailand automatically shares the same objectives and responsibilities as many of the nations and peoples of Asia and the world.
Gateway to ASEAN
Thailand is located at the strategic centre of the Asia region with healthy and stable economic growth.
- Thailand is a country recognised as a gateway to Southeast Asia and The Greater Mekong Sub-region due to its strategic location. Both of these regions are new markets with strong potential in the world.
- Thailand's prime location makes it an asset for any investor conducting business with the other ASEAN countries, which have a combined population of more than 583 million people plus China and India
Aviation Hub of Southeast Asia
Geographically well situated at the centre of Southeast Asia, Thailand is now regarded as a major regional aviation hub of the region with state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure.
- Thailand stands out as an attractive aviation centre of the region with Suvarnabhumi International Airport as the premier international and domestic gateway of Thailand. The airport can accommodate up to 45 million passengers each year with the capacity to handle more than 200 flights to and from the airport daily. The Airport Rail Link is now completed and ready to provide direct rail services between Bangkok city centre and the airport.
- Many other airports throughout Thailand cater to both international and domestic flights. Bangkok's Donmuang Airport and Pattaya's U-Tapao Airport serve flights to central Thailand. Major cities including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Krabi and many more also have their own airports which provide easy connections with Bangkok and other major cities in the region.
Other transport and infrastructure
From an extensive national highway network, railway routes and seaports, Thailand stands out as a major transport hub of the region.
- With a coastline of more than 3,000 km, Thailand has major seaports at locations including Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Ranong, Phuket, Songkhla, Sattahip, and Si Racha. Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port is now one of Asia’s leading deep-sea ports covering an area of around 2,536 acres At present, the total port capacity in Thailand can supported up to 55 million tons of cargo per year.
- Thailand has more than 60,000 kilometres of standard road transportation network forming a national highway system connecting each region of the country as well as its neighbouring countries together with a comprehensive mass transit system including both buses and trains. With new intercity motorways and highways throughout the country, the land-based network will eventually become part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) which will link the South China Sea with the Bay of Bengal, and the North-South Corridor which will link Singapore with Kunming.
EXHIBITION HOSTING EXPERIENCE
Thailand has officially joined World Expositions as many as 26 times since the very first exhibition held in London in 1851, during the reign of King Rama IV. At the time, Thailand was one of three Asian countries – along with China and Japan – to take part in the world's fair. Since then, Thailand has continued to participate in international expositions held around the world resulting in Thai pavilions attended and appreciated by millions of people.
In the year 2006, Thailand was granted an important opportunity to host the International Horticulture Exposition, which was granted recognition by the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), the governing body responsible for overseeing the bidding and selection process for World Expositions. The government of Thailand organised the International Horticulture Exposition under the name "International Horticulture Exposition for His Majesty the King: Royal Flora Ratchapruek 2006" on 80 hectares of land in Chiang Mai province for a span of three months from November 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007. It was one of the many grand celebrations hosted in Thailand in honour of King Rama IX.
The International Horticultural Exposition in Chiang Mai featured 30 international gardens, more than 2.5 million trees and 2,200 species of tropical plants and flowers and successfully ended with a total of 3.8 million visitors over its 92 days.
The opportunity to participate in such significant world events is considered at the highest levels of governmental. In 2004, the Thai government approved a bid to host the 2016 Olympics in Bangkok. However, the decision was changed in favour of a bid for the 2010 Youth Games instead.
“The Trade Fair Industry of Asia 6th Edition, 2010” reported by the Union des Foires International (UFI) showed that in 2009, Thailand’s exhibition industry was ranked the first in ASEAN in terms of the number of exhibitions identified - 75 trade shows, and estimated annualized revenues of USD149,389,750. The revenues from trade fairs in Thailand represent the highest in ASEAN and 7th rank in the whole of Asia. The report covers the Greater China and Southeast Asian markets, Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan and Australia.
Thailand Tourism Capability:
- The number of foreign tourist arrivals reached 15.6 million in the year 2010, according to statistics from the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
- According to the Department of Provincial Administration, there are 6,650 hotels and about 336,668 hotel rooms throughout the country as of May 2011. Among them, 329 hotels and 64,450 rooms are located in Bangkok.
- Average tourist spending in Thailand is approximately Bt4,000 per person per day, which is relatively low in comparison to many other major destinations in the world.
- Thailand has topped numerous travellers’ polls including the best value for money destination in the Asia-Pacific region in a CNN survey in 2009.
Necessary Factors for a Successful Bid:
- Active support from the Government and other stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.
- Achieve public collaboration, cooperation and support from the Thai people.
- Recognition and support from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
- High recognition as one of important and dynamic countries in the global market.
- The chosen theme must be relevant and can represent the central aspiration of the world population as a whole.
- The theme needs be novel and different. It must take into account innovative concepts of human well-being and development, as well as be in tune with the new perspectives and trends relating to green and sustainable development.
- Have experience in hosting major international-class events.
“We are ready to host more than 30 million visitors at EXPO 2020”
An estimated target of visitors to the Ayutthaya Expo 2020 is more than 30 million over the six- month event. The world's fair will attract visitors from all over Thailand due to its easy accessibility, as well as visitors from the other ASEAN countries, which will be much easier following ASEAN integration due to take effect in 2015, as well as people from the southern China region as a result of improved infrastructure linkages. Expo2020 will not only benefit Ayutthaya itself, but the whole of Thailand and, by extension, the rest of ASEAN as well.
"Ayutthaya was once a diplomatic crossroads,
making it a perfect location from which Thailand can once again open its doors to the world"
Ayutthaya is a city of perfect balance – a place where the past, present and future mesh, where industry and agriculture coexist, where tradition and innovation are seen going hand in hand. It is an example of "Balanced Life, Sustainable Living", the designated theme of EXPO2020 Ayutthaya.
The city was once the royal capital of Thailand for 416 years from 1351 – 1767. During its glorious years, Ayutthaya became the major political, cultural and commercial centre of the kingdom. The strength of Ayutthaya paved the way for the creation of a great power in terms of both diplomacy and trade. Foreign seafarers discovered Ayutthaya during the 15th century, and made it the first Thai capital to initiate connections with the outside world. The foreign relations transformed the city into a diplomatic crossroads and a bustling centre of trade in the region. The glowing accounts of the old capital make Ayutthaya a perfect location to host EXPO2020, from which Thailand can once again open its doors to the world, and host a stage where every nation can showcase their strengths and share their ideas.
Ayutthaya is located only 76 kilometres north of Bangkok, a mere 45-minute drive from Bangkok's city centre. Its close proximity to Bangkok, the present capital of Thailand, is a great advantage for many reasons. Bangkok today is regarded as the major hub of Southeast Asia and a dream destination for millions of visitors from all over the world. Bangkok has been awarded the “World’s Best City” in
Travel + Leisure Magazine's 2011 reader survey, as it was in 2008.
Regarded as the centre for transportation in central Thailand, Ayutthaya enjoys easy access to other areas by major highways from all over Thailand and the neighbouring countries. The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Highway will connect from the north, while the Southern Economic Highway as well as the Asian Highway Network link some 32 countries together. Furthermore, the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link (SKRL), first proposed by Asean in 1995, is also projected to pass through Ayutthaya.
The government of Thailand has approved the plans to extend its mass transit network – specifically the rapid train system – directly to the proposed site of the World Expo in Bangsai district.
The Theme...
REDEFINE GLOBALISATION : BALANCED LIFE, SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Health is a part of our daily lives. From the food we eat, the air we breathe to the relationships we build, health affects and is influenced by all the interactions of our daily lives. It connects us to our families, our communities and to the world. It is a perennial and ubiquitous human right.
