(CLO) Many Chinese tourists visiting Thailand during the Lunar New Year are worried about the risk of being kidnapped and forced to work in scam centers, despite efforts by the Thai government to reassure them.
China is Thailand's largest tourist market, with nearly 7 million arrivals in 2024. However, recent kidnappings at the Thai-Myanmar border have scared many people, leading to about 10,000 tour cancellations during the New Year holidays.
A street corner in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Krzysztof Duda
Thai aviation authorities said the number of Chinese visitors to the country from January 24 to February 2 could fall compared to 2024, even as the total number of international visitors increases.
Even those who still decide to come to Thailand cannot hide their anxiety.
"I didn't dare tell my family, so I came here secretly," said Gao, 29, a tourist from Hainan Island, at Wat Pho, one of Bangkok's most famous landmarks.
Tourist concerns were heightened after Chinese actor Wong Jing was rescued from a scam center in Myanmar earlier this month.
Wong Jing said he was lured to Thailand with an invitation to audition, but was then forced across the border to join a fraud ring.
Notably, kidnappings are often carried out by Chinese speakers, making many tourists feel unsafe communicating in their native language.
"When we are here, we try not to talk much with strangers who speak Chinese," said Hu Yangfan, 25, from Zhejiang province, while visiting the Thai Grand Palace.
China is an important market for Thailand's tourism industry, which is expected to contribute more than $50 billion to the economy by 2024, accounting for about 10% of GDP.
During the Lunar New Year alone, Chinese tourists spent more than 1 billion USD on shopping and cultural experiences.
However, after the kidnappings, ThaiPBS quoted the Airports Corporation of Thailand (AOT) as saying that about 10,000 Chinese tourists had canceled their flights.
Kasikorn Bank forecasts that the number of Chinese visitors during this period could decrease by up to 17.5% compared to the same period last year.
Faced with the worrying situation, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reassured Chinese tourists.
"These concerns are not caused by Thai people, but we understand the concerns of Chinese tourists," she wrote on social network X.
In addition, a senior Chinese security official also visited Thailand, asking the government to step up its crackdown on fraud gangs.
Ms Paetongtarn also said she would speak directly with Beijing next week to address concerns.
Tour guides in Bangkok are feeling the impact of the drop in Chinese tourists. At the Grand Palace, tour guide Buri Chin is worried about the number of visitors being significantly lower than usual.
"When I asked tourists if they needed a Chinese-speaking tour guide, many seemed scared. They didn't want to talk to strangers," Buri shared.
He predicted that this year’s tourist season would be difficult, with many colleagues deciding to return home instead of staying to work. However, not everyone is worried.
"Tourism is Thailand's lifeblood. If this country is really dangerous, it will lose all its reputation," said Li, 65, a tourist from Shanghai. "We go for a walk at night and feel very safe."
Cao Phong (according to BangkokPost, ThaiPBS)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lo-ngai-nan-bat-coc-khach-trung-quoc-huy-hang-nghin-chuyen-du-lich-thai-lan-dip-tet-post332396.html
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