Phuket to become world-class MICE city

BANGKOK, August 31 (TNA) - Thailand's southern Andaman Phuket Province is being developed to become a world-class MICE city, paving the way for the globally-renowned resort province to become a world # 1 preferable choice for MICE tourism in the future. Wallaya Chirathivat, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Pattana Public Company Limited (CPN), announced on August 30 that CPN has constructed a 6,000-square meter-international convention and exhibition center as part of the new "Central Phuket" shopping and business complex, set for its grand opening event on September 10, 2018, to promote Phuket to become a world-class city for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). Wallaya explained that Phuket is viewed as a city representing the entire nation to welcome international visitors whose total number should reach about 20 million over the next couple of years. Wallaya told journalists that CPN plans to attract three groups of quality international visitors to Phuket through the newly-opened "Central Phuket", including those of Rich Asia Millennials, European High Spenders and Bluxury. "CPN has injected a 20- billion baht-investment fund to build the new Central Phuket shopping and business complex on a vast plot of land of 400,000 square meters, in which the 6,000-square meter-international convention and exhibition center is included, to cater for the international visitors, especially those of the Bluxury group who are business operators and may look for a good place for them to meet", said the CPN deputy CEO. The CPN deputy CEO acknowledged that a hotel that meets international standards is also included in the Central Phuket shopping and business complex, which can support Phuket to become a world-class MICE city as well and to later become a world # 1 preferable choice for MICE tourism. According to the CPN deputy CEO, the opening of the Central Phuket is aimed partly to help boost the number of quality international visitors with high purchasing power to Phuket and Thailand to spur the national tourism and economic growth, expected to earn the Thai Kingdom of over 30 billion baht annually in the long run. Meanwhile, CPN Senior Executive Vice President for Operation Pakorn Partanapat anticipated that spending of international visitors in Phuket should increase to about 8,000 baht per head per bill, from 3,000 baht per head per bill, after next month's grand opening of the Central Phuket shopping and business complex. (TNA)