On 21 June 2023, members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) voted for the Specialised Expo 2027/28 host country during the 172nd BIE General Assembly in Paris. Thailand (Phuket) is one of the five candidates bidding for this Expo. The other four candidates are Argentina (Bariloche), Serbia (Belgrade), Spain (Málaga), and the United States (Minnesota). After rounds of voting, the majority of members voted for Serbia to be the host country of the Specialised Expo 2027.

Thailand congratulates Serbia for winning the bid to host the Expo Belgrade 2027 which will be the first Expo in the Balkan region.

Thailand also wishes to extend thanks and gratitude for all the votes and support. The Phuket Expo campaign is fully supported by all sectors in the country, reflecting a true Public-Private-People Partnership. Bidding for the Expo has already brought benefits and opportunities to the city, highlighting Phuket’s resiliency after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Campaigning for the Phuket Expo also reiterates Thailand’s firm commitment to the global sustainability agenda and is a catalyst for the positive change of people’s mindset, especially among the younger generation. Regardless of the voting result, Phuket will continue to move forward in its long-term development plan to become one of the sustainable cities of the world and a leading destination for medical and wellness tourism.