Published on: January 20, 2026, 01:22h.
Updated on: January 19, 2026, 03:07h.
- Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party is promoting wellness tourism
- The party previously supported initiatives to introduce casinos to Thailand
The political turmoil in Thailand in 2025, which led to the ousting of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister, resulted in a significant loss of influence for her Pheu Thai Party in the National Assembly. As they approach the upcoming general election next month, the party is pivoting its messaging.
Shinawatra, who is the fourth member of her family to serve as prime minister following her father, uncle, and aunt, was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in August after accusations of dishonesty related to a phone conversation with Cambodia’s Hun Sen.
During the leaked call, Paetongtarn referred to the former Cambodian prime minister as “uncle” and requested that he disregard “our opponents.” She has attributed increased border tensions between the two nations to the Thai military, which have escalated into a conflict.
The election for the next 500-member House of Representatives is scheduled for February 8, with the House being the only elected segment of the National Assembly, while the 200-member Senate is appointed by professional organizations.
The Pheu Thai Party suffered a considerable loss of influence following the 2025 scandal, resulting in Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party rising to the position of prime minister after severing ties with Pheu Thai.
Shift Away from Casino Messaging
Upon assuming office, Paetongtarn emphasized her commitment to introducing casino resorts in Thailand. To stimulate the economy and enhance tourism, she proposed the creation of two Las Vegas-style resorts in Bangkok and one each in Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.
Despite considerable public opposition, Paetongtarn and the Pheu Thai persisted with their casino initiative until political instability ensued. Now, to regain their influence in the National Assembly, the party is abandoning its casino aspirations in favor of the emerging field of “wellness tourism.”
Yodchanan Wongsawat, the party’s candidate for prime minister, shared with Nikkei Asia that the locations initially earmarked for casinos might be transformed into centers for health and medical tourism.
“It’s merely a project to generate income from tourists. If one initiative fails, we can pivot,” Yodchanan remarked.
Yodchanan, who is a nephew of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a cousin of Paetongtarn, aims for the party to secure at least 200 of the 500 available seats in the upcoming election.
Tourism Decline
Tourism in Thailand faced a downturn in 2025, with 32.97 million foreign visitors marking a 7.2% decrease from the previous year. The number of Chinese tourists fell by 30% amid ongoing tensions with Cambodia and the prevalence of scam operations.
Thailand’s shift away from casinos received praise from Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. During his meeting with Anutin in November, Xi acknowledged the prime minister’s decision to maintain a “no casino policy.”
China is home to the world’s largest casino center, Macau, and prohibits its citizens from gambling abroad.