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EEC Board to Review Casino-Free Tourism Plan

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The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) board will review a proposed casino-free entertainment complex this week before forwarding it to the cabinet, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday, February 23, 2026. The project is intended to stimulate economic growth and help Thailand achieve a GDP growth target of around 3% in 2026. Phiphat said infrastructure investment and tourism will be key drivers.

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Phiphat, who oversees the Office of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee, said the government led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul aims to develop a new man-made tourism destination capable of attracting up to 40 million visitors a year. The entertainment complex would comprise sports projects, a theme park and shopping malls. He stressed that “there is absolutely no casino.”

He said discussions have already been held with the EEC secretary-general, the governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, and the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The EEC has reserved about 15,000 rai of land, with approximately 5,000 rai earmarked for sports projects and a theme park. The zone would exclude industrial factories but include supporting facilities such as hospitals and medical centres to help develop the area into a new city.

Phiphat said the projects could accelerate private sector construction of the high-speed rail linking three airports and development connected to U-Tapao airport. Total investment in the EEC could reach 600–700 billion baht. This includes around 300 billion baht tied to the three-airport high-speed rail and U-Tapao airport, and about 350 billion baht in sports-related investment.

He said that once in government, the administration would move quickly to advance agreements and signatures. He expressed confidence that the government’s economic team would be able to deliver the project.

The Nation reported that a Transport Ministry source said Phiphat convened a meeting last week with the EEC secretary-general and the governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand to discuss development approaches. The source said land is already available and that a clear land-allocation plan will be submitted to the EEC board this week before being forwarded to the cabinet.

Key Takeaways

• The EEC board will review a casino-free entertainment complex proposal before cabinet submission.

• Up to 700 billion baht in combined public and private investment is projected.

• Around 5,000 rai is earmarked for sports facilities and a world-class theme park.

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image.png Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 25 Feb 2026


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What happened to Disney?

Disney said so we can only own 49%.......Well, you know what you can do with your 49%....

Also, Thailand's daily wage would not even pay for parking at Disney, much less get people into the Disney park....

6 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

What happened to Disney?

Disney said so we can only own 49%.......Well, you know what you can do with your 49%....

Also, Thailand's daily wage would not even pay for parking at Disney, much less get people into the Disney park....

Has the Walt Disney Company offically said no to the project ?

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Has the Walt Disney Company offically said no to the project ?

I think the lack of Disney being mentioned in the article is a very strong indication of what they think of the project....Even without an official... No...

The Casino project ?

Completely forgot about that is it on or off,?

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Has the Walt Disney Company offically said no to the project ?

I don't think Disney was ever involved, officially or unofficially. I think the name Disney was bandied about only to indicate it would be a Disney-type amusement park. I believe it is doubtful that Disney would ever consider an amusement park in that area. If they ever built in Thailand, it would likely be somewhere in the Bangkok area. 'Paris Disney'? Yes. 'Hong Kong Disney'? Yes. 'Tokyo Disney'? Yes. 'Bangkok Disney'? Yes. 'Chonburi or Rayong or EEC or Pattaya or Darkside or Middle of Nowhere Disney'? No. But, who knows? Could be wrong.

As for the project, the main purpose seems to be to somehow get more riders onto a new train route that's seemingly going nowhere that lots of riders will want to go to. They seem to need to show the possibility of more riders to get the train builders more vested in the project. Perhaps 'boondoggle' is running through their minds.

It will be interesting to see how this entertainment center progresses. I personally think it is in a bad proposed location and should be closer to the main tourist areas where all the tourists are. If it's to be government built, it's not a good sign that Pattaya's small sports arena has taken decades to build--and is it even finished now? Anybody using it? I think the only hope of private investment in that proposed EEC area would have been to have a casino as one of the elements. There needs to be a 'there' there--a casino would have been just that.

er.... But just as a safety precaution the precursor area for a casino should be built in as the building goes up you know just one of those just in case the rules change things not that anybody would have any prior knowledge to anything like that of course but you never know do you🤣🤣🤣

Am I the only one worried that an amusement park apparently requires a hospital and medical centres? I mean the roller coaster rides are safe, aren’t they?

Aren’t they?

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