Thai prime minister general Prayut Chan-ocha has greenlit the proposal from the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand (EECO) to organise the Thailand International Air Show at U-Tapao International Airport in 2027.
The proposal for an air show of this scale is the first of its kind initiated by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The recommendations were based on a series of feasibility studies and consultations conducted by TCEB since 2018.
The Thailand International Air Show has been scheduled for 2027, 2029, and 2031, and will include a conference, an indoor exhibition, static and aerial displays of aircraft, and receptions.
EECO will be the official organiser of the show, and is supported by TCEB and the Royal Navy of Thailand in the working committee. TCEB will be responsible for marketing and public relations, both domestically and overseas, to raise awareness and attract potential exhibitors.
TCEB will also plan a series of activities from 2023 through to the opening date of the show. In the announcement stage from 2023–2025, TCEB’s Road to Air Show project will familiarise domestic entrepreneurs and businesses to the concept of the air show and how they can benefit from it. During this period, TCEB will also organise the Aviation & LOG IN Week, a roadshow to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) where meetings, exhibitions, and mega events in related sectors will be held in the same location around the same time.
The soft launch of the air show will take place in 2025 in the form of press conferences, academic conferences, and participation in aviation-related tradeshows worldwide before the full show starts in 2027.
It is expected that the planned full shows slated for 2027, 2029 and 2031, when combined with the soft launch to be held twice in 2023 and 2025, is expected to attract some 75,000 participants, contribute 4,777 million (US$142 million) baht to the GDP, create 18,760 jobs, and generate 1,788 million baht in tax revenue.
TCEB’s president, Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, said that the approval is a testament to the potential for business events to drive Thailand’s economic transformation.
This comes as the EEC is set to be Thailand’s new centre for industrial investment, and with U-Tapao airport’s upgrade 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 large-scale, high-profile, international events such as the air show will not only give our economy a boost but also give our manufacturers and service providers a very targeted platform to showcase their specialised capabilities.
“We know there are extraordinary business opportunities to be found in our aviation, aerospace, and logistics sectors under Thailand 4.0 and the Thailand International Air Show will be a key event for investors from around the world,” Chiruit added.
