The chairman of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Sisadiva, recently issued a warning on the hotly debated topic of casino legalization in Thailand. During the no-confidence motion debate in the Thai House of Representatives, opposition members sharply pointed out that the Move Forward Party did not include casino legalization in their policy promises during the election, which could trigger control measures by the Chinese government on travel to Thailand.
Sisadiva analyzed that the Chinese government has always maintained a high-pressure stance on overseas gambling tourism. Data shows:
Tourist numbers from China to Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore have dropped by 23% in recent years
The number of Chinese customers in Philippine casinos has decreased by nearly 40%
The share of mainland revenue in Macau's VIP gaming has reduced to 35% (historically peaking at 75%)
"China views gambling as a hotbed for money laundering and has comprehensive legal restrictions on its citizens' participation in overseas gambling activities," emphasized Sisadiva. "If Thailand opens legal casinos, it is hard to avoid being listed on the travel advisory list."
Although supporters argue that a comprehensive entertainment center could bring significant revenue (estimated annual tax revenue could reach 20 billion Thai baht), Sisadiva revealed deeper concerns:
Risk of enforcement loopholes: The 2024 report by the Thai Anti-Corruption Commission shows that gambling-related bribery cases account for 17% of the total cases for the year
Crisis of industry imbalance: The experience in Vietnam shows that after the legalization of casinos, traditional tourism revenue actually fell by 12%
Adequate alternative solutions: Thai tourism has already recovered to 85% of its pre-pandemic levels, proving that there is no need to rely on the gambling industry
"We should focus more on enhancing high-quality sectors such as medical tourism and MICE tourism." ATTA suggests that the government consider the Japanese model, which reduces social risks through strict restrictions on domestic citizens' entry and high taxes. Currently, data from the Thai Hotel Association shows that the average spending of Chinese independent travelers has exceeded 42,000 Thai baht per visit, much higher than the 28,000 Thai baht spent by group tourists.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism's recently updated "outbound travel blacklist" has included major gambling areas like Sihanoukville, Cambodia. In response, the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports stated that it is assessing the comprehensive impact of casino legalization and promises to prioritize the sustainable development of the tourism industry.
