Mayor Poramase Ngampiches of Pattaya City supports the draft “Comprehensive Entertainment Facilities Act,” which seeks to establish entertainment complexes in Thailand, potentially legalizing casinos.
Pattaya is a popular tourist hotspot in Thailand located around 150 kilometers away from Bangkok.
According to the local media outlet, the mayor views this project as an opportunity to forge a new economic dimension for Pattaya, drawing parallels to Singapore’s thriving tourism model.
However, Poramase stressed the importance of having clear regulations in place by the Thai government before moving forward with the project to mitigate any potential negative repercussions.
Furthermore, the mayor highlighted the possibility of locating the complex on a spacious area, such as in Jomtien near Pattaya, where there is an abundance of available land, potentially spanning over 1.6 kilometers (1,000 rai).
In the meantime, Wattanaphon Phonchiwin, President of the Chonburi Real Estate Association, unveiled that the casino project holds numerous advantages for Pattaya. These include job creation, heightened residential demand, enhanced tourism, and an overall boost to the city’s economy.
Earlier this week, Thailand’s Labour Minister publicly endorsed the idea of legalizing casinos in the country, arguing that it could significantly boost the economy and generate a minimum of 50,000 jobs distributed across five regions.
