21-6-2023 (BANGKOK) Belgrade, Serbia has been selected to host the Specialised Expo 2027-28, beating out Phuket, Thailand in the final round of voting by member countries of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The decision was announced on Wednesday after four rounds of voting.
Phuket had been campaigning to host the event since 2020, believing that it would be a significant economic boost, attracting up to 7 million visitors and generating 50 billion baht in revenue over a three-month period. The Thailand bid team had pitched Phuket as the ideal location for events and exhibitions under the theme “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”.
However, Belgrade’s theme of “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All” won out, and the exhibition will take place from May 15 to Aug 15, 2027. In the final round, Serbia received 74 votes to Spain’s 53, securing the win.
The voting process involved representatives of eligible BIE members using electronic voting in a secret ballot. As no candidate received the two-thirds majority required to win in the first three rounds, the field was narrowed down to Serbia, Spain, and Thailand for the final round, with a simple majority of votes needed to win.
Thailand received 16 votes in the first round, placing fourth in a field that included the United States, Serbia, Spain, and Argentina. Thailand was eliminated in the second round after placing fourth again, and the US was eliminated in the third round.
