World Expo 2020 in Ayutthaya?

The 2020 World Expo will be held in Ayutthaya. At least that is the wish of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The president of this club, Mr. Akapol Sorachat, says that the TCEB, in cooperation with the Ministries of Trade and Foreign Affairs, is preparing a budget to officially make an offer for the organization of World Expo 2020.

A world fair is a large international exhibition where the participating countries can give an impression of their economic, social, cultural and technical development. Often people throw a philosophical sauce over it by stating that a world exhibition is a reflection of universal humanity in the relevant time period. The exhibitions are organized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.

The very first World's Fair was held in London in 1851. It was housed in Hyde Park in the specially designed Crystal Palace. The success exceeded all expectations. A total of 6.000.000 people came to see products brought together by 17.000 participants from all over the world.

After that, a world exhibition was held elsewhere at intervals of several years. In 1883 it was Amsterdam's turn, where the exhibition was held on a vacant lot, which is now the Museumplein. The official name was “International Colonial and Export Trade Exhibition. 28 countries were represented, including Siam (Thailand). Heineken still uses the “Diplôme d'Honneur” label on its bottles, an honor bestowed on the beer brewer during this world exhibition.

Later well-known world exhibitions were those of Paris in 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was also built, and that of Brussels in 1958, of which the Atomium is still a tourist attraction. Up close more impressive than Manneken Pis.

Organizing a world exhibition is apparently so interesting that nowadays there are several candidates for a certain year. As with the Olympic Games, the World Cup and the European Championship in football, countries must submit a bid and a motivation why they should be the chosen country. The aforementioned BIE ultimately decides where the exhibition will take place.

In 2020 it should therefore be Ayutthaya, but that will not go without a fight, because there are 4 other candidates in the race. Izmir in Turkey, Yekaterinburg in Russia, São Paulo in Brazil and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. All five have their own website with compelling texts and arguments, based on a catchy slogan.

The theme Ayutthaya uses is: “Balanced life, sustainable living”. It is based on a philosophy of life that emphasizes Thailand and its cultural wisdom. The perspective emphasizes the harmony between people, culture, technology and the natural environment as the most important thing for managing the positive growth of all countries. It also gives the world a chance to see the future through the eyes of Thailand.

Ayutthaya was chosen because it is a balanced environment. A city in which past, present and future play a major role, where industry and agriculture coexist, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand. mr. Akapol says, “Ayutthaya is a perfect example of the slogan “Balanced Life, Sustainable Living”.

Of course, a world fair would be a huge boost for the Thai economy. The spotlight will be on the land for six months. Investors will be pampered and the tourist side events will also generate a lot of money. As it says on the website: “We are ready to receive thirty million foreign visitors in 2020.”.

I am now convinced, but now the bobos of that Parisian club, who will allow themselves to be pampered in Thailand until the final decision in 2014.