Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome presents the key to Pattaya City to Bureau of
International Exposition Secretary-General Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales
(left).
Patcharapol Panrak
Pattaya and Chonburi officials greeted the head of the
group behind the World Expo with drums and elephants as they continue their
bid to win the 2020 fair.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Pongsak Preechawit, Pattaya Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome and Kampol Tansajja, director of Nong Nooch Tropical
Garden welcomed Bureau of International Exposition Secretary-General Vicente
Gonzalez Loscertales to the area Jan. 13. Whilst here, he was entertained by
long-drum dancers and 19 elephants and toured Chonburi’s proposed World Expo
site.
Pongsak told Loscertales that Chonburi has the best
transport infrastructure of the three Thai provinces seeking to host the
expo. It offers seven highway routes into the area and access to two
international airports. There are also seaports in Sattahip and Laem Chabang,
he said.
Itthiphol added that the area has 1,500 rai of land near
Thammasart University’s Pattaya campus and another equally sized plot near
Siam Country Club where the expo could be hosted. The city, as a major
tourist destination, already has the accommodations and tourist attractions
to handle expo crowds. The mayor added that bringing the World Expo to
Pattaya would have a hugely positive effect on the job market and generate
huge income for the area.
Loscertales said Thailand, whether it be Pattaya, Chiang
Mai or Ayutthaya, appears to have the capacity to host the fair. All three
provinces would be studied in depth again before a decision is made, he
said. As for Pattaya, he said he’d heard much about the city and was pleased
to have finally made the visit here.
Thailand’s convention and exhibition bureau has been
studying each province’s bid to host the Expo and will make its
recommendation next month.
