The chief executive of the online travel agency Agoda believes that introducing casinos and related attractions would significantly boost tourism in Thailand, potentially setting a new record for foreign arrivals next year.
The government plans to establish its first major ‘entertainment complex,’ which will feature a casino, as part of its latest initiative to generate jobs and attract more tourists and investment.
“It’s the experience around gambling—think about Macau and Vegas, where it usually comes with crazy shows, food, and amazing hotels,” Omri Morgenshtern said on Wednesday in Bangkok.
He also noted the importance of amusement parks, museums, and activities for children, citing Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands as an example.
Mr. Morgenshtern mentioned that casinos are also beneficial because they don’t experience off-season dips, which helps increase tourist numbers during slower periods.
Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of Southeast Asia’s second-largest nation, which has experienced a 29% increase in foreign visitors in the first ten months of this year compared to the same timeframe in 2023.
There have been previous efforts to legalize gambling in Thailand, but these initiatives have faced significant barriers from both conservatives and public opposition.
Nevertheless, the Pheu Thai government contends that without legal casinos, Thailand is missing out on potential state revenue and a considerable increase in tourism.
Neighboring countries like Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar have all seen benefits from substantial casino complexes.
In 2019, Thailand saw a record influx of 39.9 million international visitors, generating 1.91 trillion baht in tourism revenue.
The government aims to attract 40 million visitors next year, targeting 3.4 trillion baht in tourism earnings, a goal Mr. Morgenshtern believes is attainable if global travel demand continues to be strong.
Agoda, headquartered in Thailand and Singapore, operates under the umbrella of the online travel conglomerate Bookings Holdings.
Mr. Morgenshtern expressed optimism about surpassing 39 million arrivals next year, bolstered by the government’s visa waiver programs and anticipated increases in flight availability to the country.
“Unless there’s an external event that we can’t foresee and unless we do something wrong, I think there’s a chance we’ll cross the 2019 number of tourist arrivals into Thailand,” he said.
“Our data suggests that Thailand is very addictive. About 46% of travelers that we see are coming for a second, third, or fourth time.”
According to Mr. Morgenshtern, Thailand is Agoda’s second-most popular destination for repeat visitors, following Japan.
He expressed some concerns about a new pre-departure electronic travel authorization (ETA) scheme the government is developing.
“Every time you charge money for something, you lose people. And when people need to fill out a form, it’s complicated, and they end up not coming,” he said.
