PATTAYA, Thailand – Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is moving to revive two stalled flagship megaprojects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC): the high-speed rail linking Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, and U-Tapao airports, and the U-Tapao Aviation City development.
Phiphat said resolving the long-running contractual and operational hurdles remains a top priority, adding that the government aims to unlock both projects as a “New Year 2026 gift” to the public.
To boost investor confidence and ensure the projects’ viability, Phiphat is pushing bold new incentives—most notably attracting a world-class theme park such as Disneyland and developing an 80,000-seat international-standard stadium within the EEC. These additions, he said, would transform the corridor into a global entertainment and events hub, strengthening the business case for transport and aviation infrastructure.
He noted that Disney would only consider investing if no casino complex is included, which aligns with the government’s current stance. The Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee (EECO) has been tasked with evaluating land availability across all four EEC provinces and coordinating with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and other agencies.
“To make high-speed rail and U-Tapao Airport truly competitive, we must enhance the attractiveness of the entire EEC,” Phiphat said. “Large-scale sports and entertainment facilities are exactly what the region lacks. A destination like Disneyland or a major international stadium would pull global events away from Bangkok and anchor long-term development.”
Phiphat confirmed that he will soon call in the concessionaire of the high-speed rail project and U-Tapao Aviation City for urgent talks. Even if construction does not begin under this administration, he said, securing final agreement would signal that the projects are finally back on track after years of delay.
