Bangkok MICE industry goes cold on new convention centre plans

AOT acting president and Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager, Serirat Prasutanond, said construction would start in late 2010 and would take two years to complete.

News of the project has been met with mixed reactions so far. Bangkok is already home
to five major convention and exhibition centres.

The business events industry is concerned there may not be enough room in the market
for another venue and that the government would be better off investing its budget to develop
other areas of Thailand.

Sarnit Karunyavanij, business development director at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), said: “Should the government choose to build another centre at Suvarnabhumi Airport, it would mean depleting the MICE market of customers as well as qualified and experienced personnel.

“Tax could be better spent on projects which benefit the greater society of the country.”
See Analysis, Page 21