His remarks came during a wide-ranging speech on the topic of Thailand’s Strategy for the New World Economy, delivered during an event commemorating Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission’s 20th anniversary.
In the speech, reported by Matichon newspaper, Dhanin noted, “As Europe is suffering financial crises, and everyone is turning to Asia, our government should be able to find money from many sources.”
One strategy for Thailand’s economic expansion, Dhanin said, lies with tourism.
“Take a look at some of the big tourist sector countries. The United States receives yearly B3.6 trillion in income from tourism; Spain, B1.85 trillion; France – which has the largest number of tourists at 79.5 million annually, about B1.6 trillion.
“Bangkok is one of the top 10 cities for tourism in the world. I’d like to propose the government reduce value added taxes (VAT) and tax on luxury products so that these may be imported and sold especially to tourists.”
“I further propose that the government open casinos in tourism destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, which will lure tourists into spending money. Had I the power, I’d open casinos such as those in Las Vegas.
“Don’t look at gambling as something evil: underground gambling in Thailand is everywhere; we have to accept it. Personally, I don’t care for gambling – yet when I go Las Vegas I play a bit.
“If there’s a casino, people who want to play can; people who don’t won’t. People who play include Thais and foreign tourists. When Thailand has no casinos, the players disappear to Las Vegas, Macao and countries on our borders.
“Think of Macao, a tiny island – yet it has income from casinos totalling B880 billion a year; Las Vegas has B320.
“We must not imagine, by the way, that casinos in Thailand will bring in money only from gambling: for example, I believe Las Vegas has the most hotels of any city in the world.
“When tourists come to play in the casinos, they spend money on every type of entertainment. Every business sector receives regular income from it.
“Singapore just opened a casino not long ago. Its income from gambling now ranks third in the world at about B170 billion a year. If Thailand opens casinos, I expect we’ll soon be number one in the world.
“People are offering us money to do it – why not accept? We have to face the facts, they’re there for all to see.”
Dhanin said that, as for himself, “I’ve already experienced every kind of truth,” and that controls should be put in place, as in Singapore.
– Source: Matichon