Phiphat expressed enthusiasm as the Thai Ambassador in Washington signaled support for Thailand's bid to host the first Disneyland in Southeast Asia. He noted that the concept has been elevated to the level of economic diplomacy, positioning Thai tourism to become a world-class entertainment landmark, creating 100,000 jobs and generating massive revenue.
On 3 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, overseeing the EEC area, commented on the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C.'s message that Thailand is positioning itself as a "key contender" to host the first Disneyland in Southeast Asia. He said this reflects that the “Disneyland Thailand” concept has moved beyond marketing discussions to economic diplomacy. He added that Thailand’s strength lies not only in market size but also in infrastructure readiness—including airports, high-speed rail, ports, and road networks—that can immediately support a huge influx of tourists should a global project decide to invest.
“Our planned model will differ from typical amusement parks by designing a large Entertainment & Lifestyle Hub that combines theme parks, concert halls, and an international-standard stadium with over 80,000 seats to host world-class events year-round. The goal is not just to attract visitors for rides but to draw events that encourage repeat visits, including concerts by global artists and international sports competitions. This concept aligns with modern tourism trends that use sports, music, and entertainment as economic engines, spreading income beyond the project area to hotels, transportation, restaurants, and related tourism businesses rather than relying solely on theme park revenue,” Mr. Phiphat said.
Regarding concerns about gray-area businesses, Mr. Phiphat emphasized that the project will have “no gray areas, no casinos,” as it is intended to be a genuine tourism and event infrastructure. It aims to create a new image for Thailand as the regional hub for Music & Sport Tourism. If realized, the project is expected to create over 100,000 jobs, increase tourists by around 10 million annually, generate revenue exceeding 150 billion baht, and potentially boost Thailand’s GDP growth by about 1% per year.
Mr. Phiphat assessed that the Thai Embassy’s public communication in the U.S. is interpreted as an international policy signal that Thailand is seriously “opening a global deal.” If successfully implemented, the EEC may no longer be just a special economic industrial zone but could become Asia’s future world-class entertainment landmark.