Public Hearings in Thailand Yield 45 Key Suggestions for IR Bill

Integrated resorts (IRs), offering luxury accommodation, entertainment, shopping and gambling amenities enjoy a growing popularity across the globe. Despite the strict regulations regarding casino gambling across Asia, IRs are identified as a popular form of business that can boost tourism and generate additional tax revenue.

FPO Completes Public Hearings on Integrated Resort Proposal

Thailand is one country that is considering the development of IRs under a comprehensive proposal. Recently, the country’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) completed public hearings on the proposal, and it is expected to soon file the results with the Cabinet, The Nation reports, citing sources close to the matter.

Following the public hearing, the FPO reportedly summarized the results in 45 different points which will be submitted to the Cabinet for further review and consideration. The points suggest changes to the existing draft of the bill that calls for the development of IRs.

Per the recently released report, one of the points suggests that IRs should be built near or at tourist hotspots, including Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Rayong, Phuket or Hua Hin, rather than Bangkok, the country’s capital and most populous city.

A Range of Proposals Seek to Improve the Current Bill

Further recommendations propose the change of the proposal’s title from entertainment complex with casino to Integrated Resort Act. Another point recommends changes to the number of permitted entertainment activities offered at each IR.

The current bill proposes four entertainment activities, and that number is recommended to increase to seven. Separately, the FPO reportedly considering proposing the development of special zones that highlight the rich culture of Thailand.

The existing draft of the bill proposes licenses for IRs to be awarded for a period of 30 years. This may also be subject to change as after the public hearings, some supported the idea of implementing licensing that spans 50 to 60 years, while others disagreed, encouraging the government to award licenses only for a 10-year period.

Additional recommendations called for restrictions on the total number of IRs across the country. According to some stakeholders, there should be a limit to those developments and only between three and seven should be permitted.

The public hearing also saw propositions about fees, applicable to customers from Thailand. This is not an uncommon practice as some countries in Asia even prohibit locals from gambling or enforce restrictions.

Ultimately, all the proposals that are the result of the public hearing are expected to benefit the IR bill. Still, the Cabinet would need to review them prior to implementing or changing the draft.