Casinos would significantly boost tourism to Thailand, says the chief executive of the online travel agency Agoda, who is confident the country could set a record for foreign arrivals next year.

The government is planning to develop its first large scale “entertainment complex” that will include a casino, in its latest push to create jobs and draw in more tourists and investment.

“It’s the experience around gambling — think about Macau and Vegas, usually it comes with crazy shows, food and amazing hotels,” Omri Morgenshtern said on Wednesday in Bangkok.

Amusement parks, museums and activities for children were also important, he said, referring to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands as an example.

Casinos also do not have seasonality and can boost visitor numbers in the low season, Mr Morgenshtern added.

Previous attempts to legalise gambling in Thailand have hit walls, with conservative and public opposition to opening casinos.

However, the Pheu Thai government has argued the absence of legal casinos means the country is missing out on state revenue and a significant boost in tourism. Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and Myanmar have all benefited from large casino complexes.

In 2019, Thailand welcomed a record 39.9 million foreign arrivals who generated 1.91 trillion baht in revenue.

The government is targeting 40 million arrivals next year and 3.4 trillion baht in tourism revenue, a target that Mr Morgenshtern said it could reach if global travel demand remained healthy.