Agriculture Deputy Minister Orders Urgent Udon Expo Fixes, 7-Day Deadline
Deputy Agriculture Minister Wachiraprawat Khawkham has ordered nine urgent fixes to the Udon Thani World Horticultural Expo 2029 following public complaints about parking, transport, toilets, food services, and ticketing. He demanded visible improvements within seven days, including added shuttle routes linking the expo to city attractions to spread tourist spending. The ministry also plans to convert the expo site into a permanent international exhibition center after the event ends.
On November 4, 2029, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Wachiraprawat Khawkham, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Udon Thani, disclosed nine key directives addressing public and online feedback about the Udon Thani World Horticultural Expo 2029. He ordered immediate rectification of all shortcomings after the ministry's permanent secretary received reports from both the event site and social media.
Some issues were resolved instantly, while others require approval from the provincial expo executive sub-committee. The expo, which runs for more than 130 days, is managed by three main bodies: the contracted lead organizer, the Department of Agriculture as event supporter, and Udon Thani Province as the organizing and executive committee.
Regarding parking shortages and distance from ticket booths, Wachiraprawat said the front parking area near ticket sales has been opened to general visitors since the opening ceremony ended. He also ordered the province to urgently deploy shuttle buses with tents, seating, and timetable signage at pickup points. Coordination with Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and the province is underway to secure additional shuttle buses immediately, along with expanded internal parking.
The organizers were instructed to add more internal shuttle services by hiring operators, creating a linked route system with three tourist circuits connecting Park & Ride lots directly to communities and city attractions. This aims to disperse crowds and revenue beyond the expo grounds to local vendors, fresh markets, and outside shops.
Other fixes include additional directional signage and pamphlets, streamlining ticket purchases with technology, adding zone-specific wayfinding signs, and deploying mobile medical units assessed for peak days like weekends and holidays. Construction sites for additional toilets are being finalized this week, along with more waste bins and sufficient solar lighting.
For welfare shops inside the expo, the minister ordered more vending machines, beverage stalls, clear signage for water stations, and free water at all Department of Agriculture booths. More food, snack, and souvenir outlets are also being added.
On the online ticketing issue — where visitors had to register again on-site — the contractor explained this was for post-event evaluation reporting. After discussions with Udon Thani Rajabhat University on evaluation methods, they agreed to cancel pre-entry data collection and switch to post-visit collection instead.
Wachiraprawat revealed the ministry plans to develop the expo site into an international exhibition center after the event concludes, showcasing Thailand's agricultural product potential.
