Thailand’s Disneyland Gambit: A Bold Tourism Strategy to Revive Growth
Bangkok explores building a Disneyland-style theme park in the Eastern Economic Corridor to catalyse tourism, infrastructure and economic expansion
Thailand is actively exploring the development of a Disneyland-style theme park in its Eastern Economic Corridor as part of a high-stakes strategy to invigorate the country’s tourism economy and accelerate major infrastructure projects.
Officials describe the potential park as a flagship magnet that could draw visitors year-round, underpinning growth in passenger traffic on the planned high-speed rail linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports and supporting the long-delayed expansion of U-Tapao Airport and its surrounding aviation city.
Senior government figures have emphasised that Thailand’s tourism performance and transport infrastructure must evolve together, and that a global-scale theme park could serve as a powerful anchor for that vision.
The concept reflects confidence in Thailand’s ability to host world-class attractions and its ambition to become a premier leisure and entertainment hub in Asia, particularly as the region currently lacks a Disneyland-branded destination.
Preliminary planning outlines a range of possible development sizes, from a more compact park to a large-scale complex with extensive supporting facilities.
These could include major sports and entertainment venues designed to attract international events, concerts and conferences, broadening Thailand’s appeal beyond seasonal tourism and encouraging longer visitor stays.
Financial assessments discussed by officials and analysts point to a substantial long-term investment, potentially running into the tens of billions of baht.
One model under consideration mirrors arrangements used elsewhere in Asia, where local investors build and operate a park under licence, combining global intellectual property with domestic capital and operational control.
Authorities stress that the initiative remains at an exploratory and feasibility stage, with no binding agreements finalised.
Even so, the proposal underscores Thailand’s proactive approach to addressing structural challenges in tourism, strengthening its economic base and positioning the country for sustained, high-value growth in the years ahead.
Officials describe the potential park as a flagship magnet that could draw visitors year-round, underpinning growth in passenger traffic on the planned high-speed rail linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports and supporting the long-delayed expansion of U-Tapao Airport and its surrounding aviation city.
Senior government figures have emphasised that Thailand’s tourism performance and transport infrastructure must evolve together, and that a global-scale theme park could serve as a powerful anchor for that vision.
The concept reflects confidence in Thailand’s ability to host world-class attractions and its ambition to become a premier leisure and entertainment hub in Asia, particularly as the region currently lacks a Disneyland-branded destination.
Preliminary planning outlines a range of possible development sizes, from a more compact park to a large-scale complex with extensive supporting facilities.
These could include major sports and entertainment venues designed to attract international events, concerts and conferences, broadening Thailand’s appeal beyond seasonal tourism and encouraging longer visitor stays.
Financial assessments discussed by officials and analysts point to a substantial long-term investment, potentially running into the tens of billions of baht.
One model under consideration mirrors arrangements used elsewhere in Asia, where local investors build and operate a park under licence, combining global intellectual property with domestic capital and operational control.
Authorities stress that the initiative remains at an exploratory and feasibility stage, with no binding agreements finalised.
Even so, the proposal underscores Thailand’s proactive approach to addressing structural challenges in tourism, strengthening its economic base and positioning the country for sustained, high-value growth in the years ahead.
