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UDON THANI - The International Horticultural Expo 2026, a 2.5-billion-baht investment, has been readied for public viewing with hopes it will stimulate the local economy and justify its considerable cost.
Located within Nong Dae Wetland in Mueang Udon Thani district, the exhibition spans over 1,030 rai and includes an information centre inspired by local traditional fishing tools, an indoor botanical garden and the Royal Tribute Pavilion.
Sasiya Pantun, deputy director-general and spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture, told a media tour of the event that the expo is expected to become an Udon Thani landmark, boosting the local economy, while also serving its core purpose as a significant learning centre on plants. It is expected to draw over 3.6 million visitors and generate 20 billion baht in economic return over its 134-day period from November 1 this year to March 14 next year.
According to Ms Sasiya, over one million trees would be circulated through the event’s 32 gardens, originating from 17 countries, two international organizations and 16 gardens of state agencies and partners. Over 50 plant species exhibition zones have also been included in the exhibition.
Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026 would be the country's second expo of its kind after Chiang Mai’s event in 2006, which has become a permanent fixture of its 400-rai plot. That botanical garden currently generates less than 45-million-baht in income per year against an estimated 100 million baht in maintenance fees reported by local media and an initial investment of 2.4 billion baht.
The Udon Thani expo has been categorised as a type B, or urban scale, differing from the type A1 classification given to the Chiang Mai exhibition by the International Association of Horticultural Producer (AIPH).
An extra 250 million baht requested by the agriculture department for the forthcoming event was widely reported on social media, prompting questions towards the project's transparency.
Ms Sasiya dismissed the speculation and explained the extra budget was both for public relations and management and maintenance to keep the event in line with AIPH requirements.
The department previously allocated 48.3 million baht to Media I Am company, which won bidding for both local and international public relations related to the event. Another 290 million baht was earmarked for the same company for organisation duties.
In June, AIPH's team examined the site and found that it was still sub-standard and suggested the department add at least 10% of the original budget to complete the event. The department later was approved an additional 250 million baht.
"We specifically hired the same company to make the project run smoothly despite its very limited timeline. Everything was done transparently and we are ready to be examined," Ms Sasiya said, adding that the budget increase was for additional lights night shows.
Meanwhile, Natthapol Withee, deputy governor of Udon Thani, indicated the garden would require at least 60 million baht a year to maintain. Each half of the required budget would be allocated from the local and provincial administrative organisations.
He expressed hope that the landmark would generate added revenue from rentals for restaurants and shops. An aquarium planned for the future of the site could further attract visitors, he said.
The country’s next A1-scale horticultural expo has been planned for Nakhon Ratchasima province in the next two years.
