Disney Land Park Construction Plot Proposed to Draw Tourists

BANGKOK: -- The Association of Thai Travel Agents proposes the government construct a Disney Land Park in Thailand to attract more tourists.

Association of Thai Travel Agents, or ATTA, Chairman Siddiwat Cheewarattanaporn revealed that the ATTA, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Thai Hotel Association will be meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra tomorrow at the Government House.

The agenda is to resolve various problems that are affecting the tourism sector. Moreover, it will set campaigns to promote tourism.

Siddiwat said the government expects the tourism sector to generate at least 2.2 trillion baht in revenue within the next three years.

The ATTA will propose a plan to construct new tourist destinations, including a Disney Land Park to attract more Thai and foreign visitors.

Siddiwat pointed out other countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia continue to launch new tourist attractions, adding that amusement parks in Singapore and Hong Kong have gained much popularity among tourists.

He said the ATTA will ask the government to invest in the construction itself or kick off a joint investment program with the private sector, adding that the private sector should be granted investment privileges from the Board of Investment.

The investment cost for the construction of a Disney Land Park is estimated at 20 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-20

Hey, why don't you talk to the Disney Corp first.

We do not want more tourists - the airport cannot cope with the numbers now so why try and cram more in !!

No way, man!. Don't corrupt the Thai's with the rat.

Hey, why don't you talk to the Disney Corp first.

That's exactly what I was thinking, but I'm sure they are thinking "disney like" park.

I'm sure any attempt will make Butlins look as good as Disney world florida

Stupid idea. Tourists don't come to Thailand for such attractions as there are better and bigger ones in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore.

However, ATTA and TAT are two different bodies. ATTA is a private organisation, consisting of (inbound) agents who are basically ground operators / service providers.

I see it now, Mickey Mouse charging kun Thais 200 baht per family and Mr. Farrang a very reasonable 2000 baht per person.

I wanted to do it, I wasn't forced.

What a sad move by the tourism organizations.

Why make Thailand like every other tourist trap? A Disneyland theme park is simply an import of American culture. It will only appeal to Thais and close-by surrounding countries. Maybe it will only help keep Thai travelers at home (strategy: fight fire with fire).

Furthermore, when the real Disney makes landfall, there's going to be H_LL to pay by all the rip-offs/knock-offs of Disney's images and characters throughout the Kingdom. I live 5 minutes from a hugs swimming pool surrounded by Disney characters to attract the kiddies. In the middle of Isaan, I suspect the rights to use Disney's images have not been sought out.

Isn't the Thai food, beaches, culture, enough to draw a significant crowd interested in a country for it's own unique characteristics?

I view this as an unneeded further Westernization of Thailand only to satisfy the tourist industry's greed for the whole tourist pie in SE Asia.

[edited to remove TAT references]

Edited March 20, 201214 yr by Fookhaht

Thought Disney decided where Disney Land were built. there at least a dozen more practical ways to arrtact more tourist.

Maybe they could build the theme park next to the airport then passengers can use it whilst waiting for immigration lines to go down. Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

A Thai built and maintained space mountain erm pass on that one, still they could get the jet ski boys to work there and claim damage to to the car every time one comes in.

Edited March 20, 201214 yr by marstons

Whata nonsense idea. And besides considering the safety standards, I can foresee a lot of deadly accidents happening, referring back to that Siam Water park incident a few years ago...

Great idea for a Micky Mouse country!

Thailand doesn't really need it.

What with 'World Class Family Holiday Destinations' such as Pattaya and Phuket already.

And I believe the official name of the new park would be Disneylandski.

It will never happen.

But I agree, it is sad that Thailand would even consider a Disney park as something it needs to bring in tourists.

It is only a proposal put forth for consideration, but does show the lack of creativity and intellect by those responsible for Thai tourism.

Although, Goofy would clearly fit in...

Who needs Disneyland when you've got Pattaya?

Yeh sure. Disney, F1 track and the soccer World Cup.

There is no need to invest 20 million Baht to build the park as this country is already Dysneyland!

It will never happen.

But I agree, it is sad that Thailand would even consider a Disney park as something it needs to bring in tourists.

It is only a proposal put forth for consideration, but does show the lack of creativity and intellect by those responsible for Thai tourism.

Although, Goofy would clearly fit in...

Well theres already a Mickey Mouse goverment. or should i say Minnie Mouse

I disagree... I have kids and would definitely take the kids if there was a Disney theme park in Thailand

Off topic a bit but there was an amusing story about the employees at Disney Corp HQ in their internal emails referring to their place of work as 'Mousewitz'. When Disney's management found out they issued a warning that anyone using the term in future would be fired instantly. Shortly afterwards emails appeared replacing it with 'Duckau'.

Edited March 20, 201214 yr by bigbamboo

A Thai built and maintained space mountain erm pass on that one

Dream World already has a knock off Space Mountain. Pretty sure they even call it that.

Hey, why don't you talk to the Disney Corp first.

Yep and they already have one and it's only partly successful, it's called Dream world and it's Disney junior with an entire miniature Disney theme including their monorail and train rides and Disney products in the stores Disney has no desire to go any larger so quite funny that they would suggest the "Government" build a "Disney" theme park..

^Actually Dream World is a cooperation with Disney and they already have Hong Kong Disney and a much larger park being constructed in Shanghai so why would Disney ever consider building anything else here, it's just more Thailand thinking it's the center of the 3rd world....

BTW I think they mean to say Disney 'style' theme park but it didn't translate well, at least I sincerely hope that's what they meant..

Edited March 20, 201214 yr by WarpSpeed

Three things wrong with this plan......SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY

I disagree... I have kids and would definitely take the kids if there was a Disney theme park in Thailand

A REAL Disney park with Disney oversight and standards yes, not a Thai copy...

Atta and the Thai Hotel association live already in Disneyland. They even got paid by the Abhisit government for doing not so well.

Hey, what about just financing improvements at the existing Dream World? Oops, that would involve much less money...

And, yeah, I thought Disney Corp usually made their own location decisions.

How about attracting more tourists by not scamming the ones who already come here?

Off topic a bit but there was an amusing story about the employees at Disney Corp HQ in their internal emails referring to their place of work as 'Mousewitz'. When Disney's management found out they issued a warning that anyone using the term in future would be fired instantly. Sortly afterwards emails started replacing it with 'Duckau'.

Hilarious!

Who needs Disneyland when you've got Pattaya?

My boys are too young for me to explain the "theme" rides there though and they don't yet quite meet the minimum height requirements either.. Close though...Too close I'm afraid ...

Edited March 20, 201214 yr by WarpSpeed

There is already a Disney land in Thailand fully of many cartoon characters.....its called the Thai parliment...Mickey is unable to run it in person, so currently Minnie is trying to run the show

You! you damage my loller coaster,see big scratch! You pay me 70,000 baht now!

Does this nonsense ever stop? Why in the world would they want to import even MORE western ideas/theme parks?! Don't they understand that the "normal" tourist who comes here wants to experience THAILAND and THAI CULTURE the way it is? I can't imagine any of them being interested in traveling here just to go to yet another Disney(like) park.