Thailand Eyes Asia's Fifth Disneyland to Attract High-Spending Tourists

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January 12, 2026 | 12:53 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Thai government floats the proposal to construct a Disneyland in the country's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), in a bid to attract more high-spending international visitors and boost tourists' average length of stay in Thailand.

Disneyland, a theme park brand owned by The Walt Disney Company, is already widely distributed around the world, including four in Asia: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan, Hong Kong Disneyland in Hong Kong, and Shanghai Disneyland in China.

If the plan advances, Disneyland Thailand will be the fifth in Asia. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has repeatedly stated that Thailand is ready to attract global theme parks like Disneyland. In his latest statement, Phiphat stated that the high-speed railway project connecting three airports (Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao) and the development of U-Tapao and Eastern Aviation City will not materialize without creating new incentives.

A Project Worth Rp 58 Trillion

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EECO) Policy Committee is now tasked with analyzing and designing incentives to attract people to the area. A study cited by The National shows that Disneyland will require 144-480 hectares of land.

A detailed analysis by the financial publication Longtunman outlines the project with an estimated value of 100 billion baht, or approximately Rp53.8 trillion.

According to Thaiger, on January 10, 2026, Disneyland Thailand is likely to operate under a licensing structure similar to Tokyo Disneyland, which is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company, not The Walt Disney Company.

In the future, Thai investors will act as the main developers, responsible for the capital expenditures related to land acquisition, construction, and operation. The Walt Disney Company will provide intellectual property rights and receive royalty fees.

The report cites the strong financial performance of the Oriental Land Company in 2024 as the basis for the potential feasibility of the project. Analysts argue that this large-scale theme park will serve as a major anchor for the tourism sector, distinguishing Thailand from its regional competitors.

Read: 10 Best Theme Parks in the World for the Ultimate Fun and Adventure

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