Chinese celebrities and tourists think twice about Thailand

Charter flights have been cancelled. Shows have been canceled or postponed. Tourist agencies have sent requests from travelers who want to change their plans.

Chinese travelers have canceled their trips to Thailand, fearful of the story of a Chinese actor who was kidnapped there, taken to Myanmar and forced to work in an online scam complex. The incident represents a blow to Thailand’s tourism sector ahead of the peak Lunar New Year holiday at the end of this month, when many Chinese were expected to visit.

The disappearance of actor Wang Xing from the Thai border city of Mae Sot this month has raised public concerns about safety in Thailand. Mr Wang was later rescued from a scam complex in Myanmar, but many travelers and event organizers were already upset.

Hong Kong pop star Eason Chan has canceled a concert scheduled to be held next month at Bangkok’s Impact Arena, with organizers citing “safety concerns for Chinese nationals and fans around the world traveling to Thailand.” Zhao Binshan, a Chinese comedian known for his sketches at the China Broadcasting Corporation’s Lunar New Year Gala, has also postponed his appearance in Bangkok next month.

Nuntaporn Komonsittivate, an executive at low-cost carrier Thai Lion Air, said on Wednesday that 20 percent of the company’s charter flights between China and Thailand — which serve routes to Chinese cities other than the six where the airline usually operates — have been closed. Cancel it.

On Weibo, a Chinese social media site, people discussed travel refunds and whether Thailand was safe, using hashtags that rose in popularity on the platform. Travel agents in China said they had received requests from travelers to cancel their trips to Thailand or change their destination.

Zhang Zhihong, a sales representative for Baozhonghuo Travel Agency, a company based in the southern city of Shenzhen that focuses on travel to Southeast Asia, said a quarter of the trips to Thailand his company handled had been canceled in the past week. It was all because of public opinion about this incident. “People felt it was unsafe to travel to Thailand and demanded refunds.”

This concern may complicate Thailand’s efforts to revitalize its tourism sector after the pandemic. Thailand has eased visa requirements for Chinese travelers and offered discounts through Chinese travel platforms in a campaign the country has dubbed “Shahr Nihao,” using a Mandarin term that means “hello.” Nearly 7 million Chinese will travel to Thailand in 2024, making them the largest group of international visitors.

Public outrage over Mr. Wang’s kidnapping is increasing pressure on the Thai and Chinese governments to do more to prevent the kidnapping and trafficking of Chinese into scam complexes in Myanmar.

“The cancellation of shows and public attention may force Thai authorities to become more serious in combating human trafficking and fraud,” said Ja Ian Chung, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

Hundreds of thousands Of people, who are often lured by high-paying job offers, fall into the trap Such operations are related to cyber crimes In Myanmar and Cambodia They are forced to work in sophisticated scams To defraud people online. Many of the captives first land in Thailand before being smuggled across the porous border into lawless areas mostly controlled by Chinese organized crime gangs.

Thai police said Mr. Wang had traveled to Bangkok for what he believed was an acting opportunity. After he disappeared on January 3, his girlfriend filed reports with the Chinese police and the Chinese embassy in Thailand. She called for help on social media, and her posts, shared by Chinese celebrities, went viral.

On January 7, Thai authorities said Mr. Wang had been found and rescued, but did not provide details. Criminal gangs often demand huge ransoms to free their captives from these compounds.

In video interviews with Thai media after his release, Mr. Wang said he was forced to shave his head and learn how to type quickly.

Thai officials sought to use his rescue to reassure Chinese travelers about visiting Thailand. In one video, a Thai police officer urged Mr. Wang: “You think Thailand is safe for you. Can you say in Chinese?”

Mr. Wang’s quick rescue sparked a wave of calls for help from the families of other Chinese victims, some of whom have been missing in Southeast Asia for months or years. A log containing details of the disappearance of more than 170 other Chinese victims was widely shared on Weibo.

Thai officials were quick to show that they were working to protect visitors’ safety. Thai police met with Chinese diplomats to discuss establishing a center for Coordinating efforts to trace missing persons and exchange information. On Monday, Thai authorities said that Chinese authorities rescued two Chinese women who were kidnapped in Thailand and returned them to their homeland.

Theinprasit Chaiyapatranon, president of the Thai Hotel Association, said he hoped the Thai government would do more to allay Chinese tourists’ concerns.

“We are nervous that it will have long-term effects,” he said.

Siyi Chow Contributed to research.