Plans Scrapped for Phuket Convention and Exhibition Centre

November 6, 2012

According to recent media reports, plans to build the US$85 million Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Centre have now been scrapped by the Thai government. The resort destination in southern Thailand was to be the first in the region to receive a large-scale MICE venue.

An original budget of US$85 million (THB2.6 billion) was approved by the government of former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, which also included plans for a US$186 million upgrade to the Phuket International Airport. The budget for the MICE venue will now reportedly be allocated “to another economic area”.

Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourism Association, was quoted saying, “The government seems to ignore the three elements that Phuket's tourist future requires – safety, security and sustainability. Phuket is one of the most important provinces in Thailand when it comes to driving revenue but we number about 77th - at the very bottom - when it comes to the government spending on infrastructure.”

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