Thai Prime Minister General Prayut has approved the Eastern Economic Corridor Office’s proposal to host the Thai International Airshow at U-Tapao International Airport near Pattaya in 2027.
The Thailand International Airshow was initiated by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and approved by the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) of Thailand at a meeting held on March 9, 2022, chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut. The approval of EECO led by the Prime Minister is equivalent decision by the Cabinet. An airshow proposal of this scale is the first of its kind initiated by TCEB. These recommendations are based on a series of feasibility studies and consultations conducted by TCEB since 2018.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of TCEB, said that the Thai government’s approval to organize the first Thai International Airshow is a testament to the potential of commercial activities to transform Thailand’s economy. The airshow showcases our progress on Thailand 4.0, which includes the development of an aviation hub in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). With EEC becoming Thailand’s new industrial investment hub and U-Tapao Airport being upgraded to become Bangkok’s third international airport, the air show will be a catalyst for the growth of Thailand’s civil and commercial aviation industry.
“As Thailand recovers from the impact of COVID-19, we believe that a large, high-profile international event like the air show will not only boost our economy, but also provide a very valuable opportunity for our manufacturers and service providers. A targeted platform to showcase their professional capabilities. We know that under ‘Thailand 4.0’, there are extraordinary business opportunities in our aviation, aerospace and logistics sectors, and the Thai Airshow will be an important event for global investors.”
The Thai Airshow is held every two years at U-Tapao International Airport near Pattaya and is scheduled for 2027, 2029 and 2031. The show will include conferences, indoor exhibits, aircraft static and aerial displays, and receptions. EECO is the official organizer of the exhibition and is supported by the TCEB and the Royal Thai Navy in the working committee. TCEB will be responsible for domestic and overseas marketing and public relations to raise awareness and attract potential exhibitors.
TCEB will also plan a series of events from 2023 until the show’s opening date. During the announcement phase of 2023-2025, TCEB’s “Road to Airshow” project will familiarize domestic entrepreneurs and businesses with the concept of an airshow and how they can benefit from it. During this period, TCEB will also organise Aviation & Landing Week, a roadshow to the EEC where conferences, exhibitions and major events from related industries will be held at the same time and in the same location. The soft launch of the airshow will take place in 2025 in the form of press conferences, academic conferences and participation in global aviation-related trade shows, ahead of the full show in 2027.
The full-scale fairs planned in 2027, 2029 and 2031, together with the two soft launches in 2023 and 2025, are expected to attract around 75,000 participants, contributing 4.777 billion baht to GDP and creating 18,760 jobs, The TCEB president added, and generated 1.788 billion baht in taxes.
