Thai Hotel Association Championing Ideas for Future Entertainment Centers
The Thai government's plans for entertainment complexes may be shifting gears, and it's all about the secondary cities. After announcing four potential locations - Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket - for these future properties, various parties have, well, hung out their shingles with suggestions and concerns.
🏮 Secondary cities want a piece of the action
Why settle for the limelight when you can steal the spotlight? Although the final locations are still up in the air, the Thai Hotel Association (THA) decided to toss its hat into the ring. THA President Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun proposed that referendums be held in provinces considering the entertainment complex expansion.
Thienprasit isn't the only one bringing up concerns about proposed locations. Across Thailand, scholars worry that casino resorts might be unsustainable, given the country's troubles with regulating high-risk sectors like gambling. But Thienprasit isn't against the idea of casino resorts altogether; he's just not keen on the proposed locations.
He argues that it'd be smarter to develop entertainment complexes in secondary cities, which could benefit economically from the development. He also pointed out that some proposed locations like Phuket and Pattaya are water-strapped and face seasonal shortages when tourist numbers peak. Thienprasit urged the government to prioritize transparency, ensuring that casinos know who enters their premises at any time.
🌟 Ordinary Thais have concerns of their own
While some see economic opportunities, others worry about the downsides. Crime, problem gambling, and organized crime are top-of-mind for many Thais, who fear that these projects could make things economically worse. Scholars caution that because of the country's history of corruption, the arrival of a new resort may only strengthen the economic grip of powerful and well-connected businesspeople.
Despite the concerns, the Thai government seems intent on moving forward with its entertainment complex plan.
📸 Credit: Unsplash.com
📝 Behind the Scenes
At present, there's no specific information available on proposed secondary locations for entertainment complexes in Thailand. However, the country's tourism strategy involves promoting secondary cities like Nan, Loei, Trang, and Lampang as alternative tourist destinations[5]. These locations are being promoted for their cultural and natural attractions to create a more sustainable tourism ecosystem[5].
The proposed entertainment complexes, especially those involving casino operations, have faced opposition[2][4]. While the government is exploring large-scale entertainment complexes funded by private investments, the specific locations for these developments are not specified in the available information[1]. Promoting secondary locations could be a strategic alternative to mitigate potential risks or challenges associated with the initial proposals, though specific secondary sites for entertainment complexes are not explicitly mentioned. The emphasis on regional development aligns with broader tourism strategies to diversify attractions and reduce congestion in major tourist areas[5].
- Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, a proponent of the Thai Hotel Association, suggests that referendums be conducted in provinces under consideration for entertainment complex expansion, advocating for the development of such facilities in secondary cities instead of the initially proposed locations in Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.
- Conversations surrounding the entertainment complex industry in Thailand reveal concerns about problem gambling, crime, and organized crime, with ordinary Thais questioning whether these projects could exacerbate economic issues rather than alleviate them.
- In response to the opposition faced by the proposed entertainment complexes, the Thai government may be considering promoting secondary cities like Nan, Loei, Trang, and Lampang, which already stand as alternative tourist destinations, as potential locations for the entertainment complexes. This decision could reflect an effort to create a more sustainable tourism ecosystem and mitigate potential risks associated with the initial proposals.
