Convention centre faces fresh hurdle
The opening of the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, most recently set to open in the middle of next year, could face another delay after the government sets up a new pubic organisation to oversee the project, effective in January
On Friday, the Cabinet approved establishing a public organisation, expected to be named the Ping Nakhon Development Bureau, to take care of three key tourism projects in the province, namely the Bt2.57-billion Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek and Chiang Mai Night Safari. The permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office will chair the bureau.
Currently the Tourism and Sports Ministry is overseeing construction of the convention-centre project. The ministry assigned the Tourism Authority of Thailand to conduct a feasibility study on terms of reference (TOR) for private bidders to operate the project, while the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau was to prepare the master plan for the venue.
Additionally, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek is overseen by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organisation) now operates Chiang Mai Night Safari. Those projects are under the management of MPs from the Chart Thai Pattana Party, of which veteran politician Banharn Silpa-archa is de facto leader.
During a site inspection at the convention centre, Banharn said yesterday that the new bureau would manage those key projects on its own both operationally and financially, excluding ongoing processes for which the Tourism and Sports Ministry has responsibility.
Those processes, worth Bt190 million, include the administrative building, the royal reception areas, a dormitory, a maintenance building and a garbage-management area. Those developments are expected to be completed by April.
Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa said he and his office would continue to support the new bureau.
If the convention centre’s opening is delayed again, it will be the third time. The original plan called for it to open in October last year, while the current team expects to open it in mid-2013.
The new bureau must work on its master plan and TOR for selecting private operators to run Chiang Mai’s new meeting venue next year. This could cause another delay.
