The event, held at Central Festival Phuket from July 2-6, was officially opened yesterday (July 2) by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Also present were key figures from the local government and business sectors, including Anupap Vetchawanichsanong, Deputy Chairman of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, and Thanusak Phuengdet, President of the Andaman Chamber of Commerce.
Under the theme ‘Living in Paradise’, the expo is part of the ‘Connecting Phuket, Connecting the World’ campaign, which aims to showcase the island’s readiness to serve as a second home for international visitors seeking health services, quality lifestyles and wellness experiences.
The event features a wide range of exhibitions and activities highlighting Phuket’s health and wellness potential across the entire supply chain. Visitors can explore the ‘Wellness Map’ through a modern 3D immersive experience using Google Maps and virtual reality technology.
Free health checkups are on offer from leading hospitals and clinics, along with cultural performances such as a Wai Khru Muay Thai demonstration, live music from Yamaha Music School, a golf simulator competition, herbal compress demonstrations, and a ‘Wellness Culinary Art’ workshop by a five-star chef.
Workshops on life-saving skills, including CPR training with certificates issued to participants, are also part of the programme, alongside the sale of health products and exclusive wellness travel packages such as the ‘Phuket Health Expo Trip’ and ‘Premium Wellness Trip’, offered in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the PPAO and the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
A highlight of the expo will be the ‘CEO Talk’ seminar today (July 3) at the Floresta Mini Convention Hall, featuring leading executives from the wellness tourism sector. Business matching sessions will also be held to connect local health businesses with international partners.
The event also includes the ‘Living in Paradise Awards’ to recognise outstanding businesses in six wellness sectors: hotels, spas, clinics, hospitals, real estate and health product outlets.
To further support the sector, a ‘Road Show’ and ‘Fam Trip’ is being held over two days, with 50 selected tour operator executives invited to visit Phuket’s health tourism attractions. The aim is to develop new travel packages for promotion both in Thailand and abroad.
Looking to the future, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and its partners are working towards positioning Phuket as a national model for health tourism by 2030. Plans include presenting Phuket’s wellness initiatives on the global stage, such as at the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In addition, the chamber is pushing for Phuket to become a pilot area for a new ‘Wellness Visa’ to complement the existing ‘Medical Visa’. There are also calls for government-backed financial support for wellness businesses, including Wellness Loans and SME Bank guarantees, to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness internationally.