Patong Convention Center Coming

A new Phuket convention and exhibition center is under development at Patong's Fisherman Harbour mixed-use project.
The facility will feature a main 5,000 square meter hall, banquet hall and nine to ten meeting rooms.
We spoke to Bangkok-based Impact Exhibition Management who has been appointed to operate the facility who confirmed that final planning is in process and an opening date in 2016 is being projected.
Fisherman Harbour is a master-planned project by OTOP's (One Tambon One Product) entrepreneur Vitaya Taweewongsup which is located at the southern portion of Patong.
Included in the development are a number of new hotels, including Starwood managed properties Four Points by Sheraton and an Aloft.
There is currently a large surge of new hospitality projects in the area with the multi-million dollar luxury Rosewood hotel by Hong Kong's New World Group now under construction and the nearby Amari Residences which will add new hotel inventory to the existing Amari Coral Beach Resort.
A government-sponsored convention center in Mai Khao has remained on hold pending environmental issues: and a possible development by Central, which has been reported in the press, has not been formally confirmed by the group.
Given the substantial amount of high density projects in Patong once again the private sector is racing ahead of the government who yet have to finalize new transportation infrastructure to an area which is well on its way to becoming a second island urbanized city district.
There is little doubt, that hotels and projects will be built and that travelers will come, but the larger question is how will they get there? Bangkok, are you listening?