Macau Targets Thai Tourists Amid Potential Gaming Legalization in Thailand

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the city’s leading gaming and integrated resorts rolled into Thailand to strike tourism accord with a roadshow officially launching on Friday in Bangkok’s sprawling Centara mega-mall. 

Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said, “We were here last year for the first roadshow after the pandemic. This is an annual get together we would like to continue forward.”

Highlighting Macau’s gastronomy and cultural heritage, plus multi-destination packages with Hengqin, Hong Kong and other Greater Bay Area cities, Director de Senna Fernandes noted that Thailand is a key overseas market for Macau, ranked 5th for visitors.

The leading list is Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, she said.

The hope is to increase Thailand visitors, but some Macau operators are also keeping an eye on the legalisation of gaming in Thailand, Macau Business has learned. While the Macau players stay mum about up about possibly entering Thailand for gaming, some are privately gleeful about its prospects. 

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed his Deputy Finance Minister, Julapun Amornvivat, earlier this month to draft a bill that lays the legal foundation for the establishment of entertainment complexes where gaming can take place.

Carlos Lobo, an independent legal analyst , observes that “it’s not set in stone, but I believe Thailand will move forward in allowing casino gaming in the country. Another issue will be the challenge for US-based companies to address compliance issues. Regardless, those companies that will operate casinos in Thailand will compete with Macau properties, both with Mainland China and foreign customers alike.”

Asked about Thailand’s move to legalize gaming entertainment complexes and what it could mean for Macau to compete with, Director Senna Fernandes replied, “It’s very difficult to make a guess, but my feeling is that nowadays in fact a lot of countries in Southeast Asia do have casinos, in Malaysia for many years already, Singapore also, Cambodia. It’s not something new in terms of different countries or places having casinos. At the end of the day, we need to make ourselves competitive.” 

She added, “We need to have products not only casinos. We have to have non-gaming products that give people a variety of things to do. If you have a lot of different things to offer that will also help the casino businesses. They work hand in hand together.” 

Macau’s competition for tourism also comes from other cities in mainland China and globally. 

“Actually, everybody is a competitor.”

She also remarked that they are domestically promoting tourism to harness “technology with apps for exploring Macau” to health and wellbeing to modern finance to MICE, sports, culture and commerce. 

Pansy Ho, MGM Director, held a separate promotional VIP Gala dinner at the Rosewood Bangkok with senior executives, Thai celebrities and VIPs to highlight gastronomy and promote MGM properties.