Representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) have completed their Enquiry Mission as part of the examination of Thailand’s candidature to organise a Specialised Expo in Phuket in 2028 under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.

Members of the Enquiry Mission, led by the President of the BIE Executive Committee, Alain Berger, looked into all aspects of the Expo project submitted by Thailand and laid out in its candidature dossier. The delegation was composed of Delegates of three BIE Member States, and the Secretary General of the BIE, Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, and was accompanied by BIE officials.

Over the course of five days, Members of the Enquiry Mission received detailed presentations of the candidature project, visited the proposed Expo site, and exchanged with national and local officials, as well as representatives of the business community and members of civil society.

In Bangkok on 25 and 26 July, Members of the Enquiry Mission met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul, and the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vijavat Isarabhakd. The delegation travelled to Phuket on 26 July, where they were received by the Governor of Phuket, Narong Woonciew.

Members of the Enquiry Mission, led by the President of the BIE Executive Committee, Alain Berger, meet with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

The candidature dossier submitted by Thailand outlines a vision for a Specialised Expo addressing harmony and prosperity as the answers to the quest for balance between technology and humanity. The Expo would be held between 20 March and 17 June 2028 on a site located in Mai Khao Beach, part of the Phuket International Medical Tourism City. The candidature committee forecasts that 106 countries would participate in the Expo and that it would receive over 7 million visits during its three-month opening period.

The Enquiry Mission to Thailand is the first of five being carried out as part of the project evaluation phase for Specialised Expo 2027/28. The others will take place in the other four candidate countries – Argentina, Serbia, Spain and the United States – in the coming months. The findings of the Enquiry Missions will be discussed by the BIE’s Executive Committee in October 2022, which will decide to retain the candidatures it considers to be feasible and viable. In June 2023 during the 172nd General Assembly of the BIE, the host country of Specialised Expo 2027/28 will be elected via secret ballot by BIE Member States, on the principle of one country one vote.

Members of the Enquiry Mission received detailed presentations of the candidature project

Expos are global events that explore a chosen theme through engaging and immersive discoveries. Among the different categories of Expos, Specialised Expos are designed to respond to a precise challenge facing humanity and may take place in the interval between two World Expos. Specialised Expos are limited in terms of duration - lasting up to three months - and space - with the exhibition area not exceeding 25 hectares. The site is entirely built by the Organiser, Participants being provided with pavilion space.

The most recent Specialised Expo, Expo 2017 Astana, took place in the capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, under the theme “Future Energy”, and received almost 4 million visits.