Finance Ministry to construct international convention center in Phuket

PHUKET, 28 September 2009 (NNT) – The Finance Ministry is pushing forward with plans to construct a 3.7-billion-baht international convention center in Phuket province to be completed in 2012.

Deputy Minister of Finance Dr Pruttichai Damrongrat on Monday traveled to the site of the future Phuket International Convention Center to meet and explain the need for the structure to locals. The 3.7-billion-baht project is being conducted on an area of 150 rai on Mai Kaow Beach in Phuket and will mostly cater to ASEAN region events with a full contingent of facilities and amenities. The convention center will be adjoined by a 4 star hotel and over 1,000 spaces of parking. 1.6 million people a year are expected to visit the facility.

The center is being funded by the government’s Strong Thailand project and the construction will officially begin next year with projections it will be ready for use by 2012. The opening of the center will greatly increase property values in the area and generate an estimated 20 billion baht a year in revenue.