Thailand is thought for its mixture of vibrant cities and delightful seashores. However regardless of its international enchantment, Thailand—and Southeast Asia as a complete—has by no means been dwelling to one of many world’s most recognizable amusement parks: Disneyland.
Now, Thailand is suggesting it may change that. Authorities officers have floated the concept of creating the nation dwelling to Southeast Asia’s first Disneyland.
Nevertheless, some locals are cautiously optimistic, recalling related proposals that in the end went nowhere.
Disney Has Not Responded To Thailand’s Disneyland Proposal To Increase Tourism
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Final week, the Thai authorities floated the concept of bringing a Disneyland theme park to the nation’s Jap Financial Hall (EEC) to spice up tourism and assist revive long-delayed infrastructure initiatives, based on the Bangkok Post.
Extra particularly, officers like Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who additionally serves because the transport minister and chairs the EEC coverage board, see the introduction of a serious theme park as a technique to enhance ridership on Thailand’s deliberate high-speed rail line connecting Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports.
The thought is in its early levels, however the proposed park may vary from 384 to over 1,100 acres.
In response to Ratchakitprakarn, Disney could be given the primary alternative to take a position, however different traders are already standing by if it declines.
“Southeast Asia at present has no Disneyland, so Thailand can change into the primary within the area. We are going to first invite Disney to take a position straight, but when it doesn’t achieve this, a license could possibly be bought to function the mission as an alternative,” he stated.
To date, Disney has not publicly responded to Thailand’s proposal. And whereas the concept is producing headlines, many locals view it as an aspirational pitch relatively than a completed deal.
Thailand Reportedly Explored A Disneyland Proposal Years In the past, However It Was In the end Deserted
For some locals, Thailand’s newest Disneyland proposal doesn’t really feel new in any respect.
In a latest Reddit discussion, commenters claimed the Thai authorities explored a Disneyland proposal round 10 to fifteen years in the past. Whereas no official paperwork or confirmations have surfaced, a number of customers stated the concept was informally mentioned on the time, with Pattaya and Phuket as potential areas.
One commenter recalled why Pattaya was seen because the extra sensible possibility, no less than on paper:
“It was mooted for Pattaya and Phuket about 10 to fifteen years in the past. And placing apart Pattaya’s repute (large ask), Pattaya did make way more sense than Phuket—near BKK (airport and native potential clients), a number of room for enlargement, and much cheaper land than Phuket. Neither location was ever confirmed by Disney to be significantly thought-about and even being scouted,” they wrote.
One other commenter prompt the proposal fell via due to corruption—extra particularly, “a gaggle of politically highly effective individuals ask[ing] for an excessive amount of.”
Disney hasn’t formally verified these claims, however the skepticism they mirror is actual.
Commenters’ Doubts Surrounding Disneyland In Thailand:
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“I feel it’s simply too sizzling right here for Disneyland.” |
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“That is simply pie-in-the-sky nonsense from the federal government.” |
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“If Thailand can management the corruption and immense bureaucratic delays, it stands an opportunity.” |
For a lot of, doubts about Disneyland are rooted in one other bold tourism plan that in the end went nowhere: Thailand’s push to legalize casinos.
Earlier than The Current Disneyland Proposal, Thailand’s Tourism Technique Centered On Authorized Casinos
Earlier than talks of a Disneyland theme park being inbuilt Thailand, the federal government backed a proposal that will have allowed casinos to function inside giant, built-in resorts.
In response to Reuters, though playing in Thailand is banned for probably the most half, officers argued that authorized casinos may assist herald tourism income and create new jobs.
This concept did not final lengthy, identical to Thailand’s recent ban on alcohol consumption.
After Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from obligation by the Constitutional Court docket, assist for the invoice plummeted. Because of this, it was quietly shelved.
“The draft invoice in query includes points that require time for public understanding. It’s subsequently acceptable to withdraw this draft invoice from parliament’s deliberation,” authorities spokesman Jirayu Houngsub stated in a press release.
With casinos now not an possibility, the main focus has shifted to Disneyland. However with no response from Disney, the plan’s future stays unclear.
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