At the beginning of the new year, Chinese actor Wang Xing was kidnapped in Thailand, sparking public concern about such fraudulent kidnapping cases. As the Chinese New Year approaches, some Chinese tourists planning to celebrate in Thailand have expressed worries on social media, leading to cancellations of trips to Thailand.
Wang Xing is a relatively unknown actor in China, who went missing after traveling to Thailand for filming earlier this year. With heightened public attention, Thai authorities swiftly took action and rescued Wang Xing from a cyber fraud operation in a city bordering Myanmar last Tuesday. According to authorities, Wang Xing was identified as a victim of human trafficking.
According to a report by Bloomberg on January 13th, data from the travel analysis company ForwardKeys showed a 155% increase in the number of flights from China to Thailand being canceled last weekend compared to the same period last year.
Reported by the South China Morning Post, Xiao Na Li from Zhejiang had planned to travel to Thailand with three female friends from January 28th to February 4th. However, upon learning about Wang Xing’s case, they unanimously decided to cancel their trip. “We changed our minds because of basic safety concerns, especially since we are four women traveling together,” she said.
The President of the Tourism Association in Chonburi Province, east of Thailand, Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, mentioned that 30% to 40% of Chinese tour groups had canceled hotel bookings in the eastern region. Chonburi Province is where Pattaya City, a famous tourist destination in Thailand, is located.
However, Thanet clarified that tour groups only make up 20% of the total number of Chinese tourists in the province, with the rest being independent travelers.
Prior to the Wang Xing case, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand was still significantly lower than the 11 million visitors in 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic. Due to the slowdown in the Chinese economy, Chinese tourists have been more cautious in their spending on international travel and luxury goods. More tourists are opting for domestic destinations that are more budget-friendly rather than overseas destinations.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has expressed its determination to improve safety conditions and welcomes Chinese tourists to visit during the upcoming holidays. The agency issued a statement on Weibo last Saturday, saying, “We are committed to providing convenience and protection to all visitors to Thailand.”
Natthriya Thaweevong, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, told reporters on Monday that government agencies have strengthened measures to ensure the safety of foreign tourists.
Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai visited a border town between Thailand and Myanmar over the weekend to coordinate efforts to prevent cross-border human trafficking.
A government spokesperson stated that on the 13th, Thai Prime Minister Peetongtan instructed the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to take action to restore the confidence of foreign tourists. Peetongtan also requested the police to ensure an adequate number of officers on duty to guarantee tourist safety.
Thai police have reiterated that no Thais were involved in the kidnapping of Wang Xing.