Bangkok, Thailand – Bangkok’s main convention center was operating normally October 21 despite the threat of flooding in the Thai capital.
The co-located Bangkok International Gift Fair 2011 and Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2011 (BIG+BIH October 2011) opened on schedule this week at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). “BITEC, being located in the Bangna district, would like to inform that we are operating as usual,” the center said in a notification on its website.
BIG+BIH October 2011 runs October 18-23 and is open to the public on its final two days. It is organized by the Thai government’s Office of Export Promotion and several industry associations. Information on any impact the flood threat was having on attendance or exhibit space was not immediately available.
Bangkok has faced a growing flooding threat this Fall due to a long-running spell of heavy rains that have caused rivers throughout Thailand to rise. Thailand’s justice minister, who also oversees flood relief operations, told the Bangkok Post he expected about 10% of Bangkok to experience significant flooding.
Although BITEC remained high and dry, there were concerns about the main airport not far away. The Post said 300 “well-behaved” prison inmates had been brought in to help ring the Suvarnabhumi airport with sandbags.
Reach BITEC Sales Director Duangrat Thatsanaprasert at +66 2 749 3939, x3144, or duangratt@bitec.co.th
