Question in Nakhon Phanom: Disney Laos is a hoax?
Charnyuth Uppapong, chairman of the provincial chamber of commerce, said on Monday that he could not verify if the construction would take place. He referred to his discussions with counterparts in Khammuan province in Laos.
He expressed fears that this report could spark land accumulation by investors from outside the province. Yet, he said if the construction report is true, it would be a boon to the province.
"If this is true, it would bring great benefit to Nakhon Phanom as our province could be a transport centre, thanks to our readiness in terms of roads and airport. We have thousands of restaurants and hotels. If Disney Laos takes shape, Nakhon Phanom would be the must-visit province to all," he said.
Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom and Laos’ Khammuan share the border.
Vientiane Times reported in 2014 that a consortium of Lao, Thai and Malaysian investors announced a massive investment project in Khammuan’s Thakhek Specific Economic Zone (TSEZ). The project, worth US$10 billion, would feature a world-class financial centre, the first ever Disney Laos and residential and superior lifestyle communities. The report went that Disney Laos would be part of the second phase, with a focus on eco-tourism in Adventure Land complemented with the first ever 'Mountain Walk’ cable car network between mountains in the province. This phase was said to cost of $2 billion.
Tharin Phanthumai of the province’s tourism council was not convinced. He said the project sounds impossible. However, he said that if this is true, Lao people’s income would rise and this will benefit Nakhon Phanom.
"What concerns me is this could be a hoax, designed to drive up land prices. This will affect real estate development. If this is a hoax, it would definitely hurt Thailand," he said.
In the latest Vientiane Times report last week, Somjith Aliyaphaphone, chairman of Akane Farm Sole - a Lao investor in the project, said Disney Laos would be part of the third phase. While excavation work to prepare the land started, he said the entire project was set to cost $8 billion. It was set to complete in 7-10 years, he said, adding that any further progress on the project would be released at the end of this month.
Question in Nakhon Phanom: Disney Laos is a hoax? - The Nation