Inside Asian Gaming

IAG NOV 2022年11月 亞博匯 106 26-50 CHAIRMAN Paradise Group 會長 百樂達斯集團 CLAIMS TO FAME 名成事跡 POWER SCORE 權能指數: 605 POSITION LAST YEAR 去年排名: 29 Opened South Korea’s first true integrated resort, Paradise City, in 2017 Leads Korea’s foreigner-only casino market with locations in Seoul, Incheon, Busan and Jeju 2017年開設了韓國第一家真正的綜合度假村百樂達斯城 在首爾、仁川、釜山及濟州等不同地方的只對外國人開放娛樂場市場 中獨領群雄 PHILLIP CHUN 40 田必立 IT’S BEEN a harrowing few years for South Korea’s foreigner-only casino industry. Already suffering the effects of a Sino-Korean diplomatic row that saw China impose damaging restrictions on tourist flow to its close geographical neighbor in 2017, the COVID-19 pandemic hit even harder by taking away much of its remaining customer base. Relying on a small group of local expats to generate any revenue at all, Paradise – which operates four casinos in Seoul’s Paradise Walkerhill, Jeju Grand, Busan Casino Paradise and Incheon’s Paradise City – fell to a US$34 million loss in 2020 and US$17.6 million loss in 2021. At least recent signs have been more positive. Since Korea removed its mandatory hotel quarantine requirement for unvaccinated international visitors and resumed the issuance of tourist visas in June, casino sales have surged with August sales up almost 90% month-on-month. That will certainly come as some relief to Paradise Group Chairman Phillip Chun, who took over the family’s business after the passing of his father, Chun Rak-won, in 2004. It was Chun who took a risk by opening Korea’s first true integrated resort, Paradise City, in 2017 – an ambitious project that reflects the family’s passion for art. 為韓國 僅限外國人入內的賭場業而言，這幾年頗為煎熬。早在2017年， 這一行業已經受到中韓外交風波的影響，導致前往韓國的遊客數量大幅減 少，而新冠疫情之下的打擊無疑更為嚴重。 由於僅能倚靠韓國本地的一小部分外籍人士產生收入，在首爾、仁 川、釜山及濟州經營着四家娛樂場的百樂達斯集團，在2020年虧損3400 萬美元，在2021年虧損1760萬美元。 不過近期已經出現復甦跡象。韓國自6月取消對未接種疫苗的國際遊 客的強制隔離要求並恢復簽發旅遊簽證以來，賭場銷售額大幅增長。8月 賭場收入錄得環比增長近9成。 田必立是在父親田樂園於2004年過世後接手了百樂達斯這個家族企 業。田必立在2017年於韓國仁川推出以藝術為主題的綜合度假村百樂達斯 城，也反映了該家族對於藝術的興趣。