Prof. Davis Ka Chio Fong
Macao’s gaming industry has regional differentiation advantages
Recently, Prof. Davis Ka Chio Fong, Director of Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming and advisor to the Macao Economy Team of the APAEM at UM, discussed the impact of Thailand’s casino plans on Macao’s gaming industry and integrated tourism and leisure industry in Macao Daily News.
Thailand has announced plans for four integrated entertainment facilities with casinos in popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. These facilities will include luxury hotels, shopping centers, amusement parks, sports arenas, and convention centers. Prof. Fong believes that the impact on Macao will be limited due to Macao’s regional differentiation advantages and the cultural and geographical similarities between Thailand and Singapore, which may result in a greater impact on Singapore. However, Thailand might attract some high-end gamblers from Macao, especially those with flexible travel arrangements.
Prof. Fong pointed out that Macao’s Cotai Strip resorts have a strong clustering effect, attracting many mid-range gamblers, which is an advantage Thailand may find hard to compete with. Additionally, regular gamblers are less likely to travel long distances for gambling, with Hong Kong gamblers preferring Macao over Thailand. However, Thailand’s rich entertainment facilities might appeal to high-end gamblers.
Prof. Fong emphasized that the long-term development of Macao’s gaming industry requires large investment projects to maintain competitiveness, similar to the model of Las Vegas in the United States, with regular introduction of innovative landmark projects to keep tourism vibrant. He suggested that the Macao government and industry should launch competitive large-scale projects within the next two to three years to address competitive pressures from neighboring regions’ gaming industries.
For further details, please read the original news via this link.