NationThailand-Jan 21
Thailand’s tourism sector has suffered a significant setback as thousands of Chinese tourists cancel their travel plans amid growing safety concerns. mThe cancellations, affecting both chartered flights and hotel bookings, come in the wake of recent incidents involving Chinese nationals in the region. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool reports that around 10,000 Chinese tourists have cancelled their visits, primarily affecting chartered flights from second-tier Chinese cities. The situation has been exacerbated by negative social-media coverage in China, particularly regarding cases of human trafficking and fraudulent activities. Thapanee remains optimistic about achieving the annual target of 8 million Chinese visitors, despite the current challenges. This figure represents an increase from the previous year’s 6.73 million visitors, though concerns persist about reaching the Tourism Ministry’s ambitious goal of 8.8 million to 9 million visitors. In the aviation sector, Thai Lion Air chief executive officer Atsawin Yangkiratiwon confirmed that 40 chartered flights scheduled during the Chinese New Year period were cancelled, resulting in a 20% decrease in Chinese passengers. The cancellations primarily affected routes from secondary Chinese cities such as Ningbo, Hefei and Jinan. Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) vice-chairman Ratchaporn Poonsawat said the hospitality sector has been significantly impacted. Initial reports show 4,600 room cancellations from Chinese tourists and an additional 8,000 room cancellations from other Asian markets.Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Chiang Rai are among the most affected destinations for Chinese cancellations, while Chonburi, Bangkok and Krabi saw the most cancellations by other international tourists. The downturn has been largely attributed to a recent incident involving a Chinese actor known as “Xingxing“ (real name Wang Xing), who was reportedly lured to Myanmar through Thailand. This case, combined with concerns about call-center scams and grey capital operations, has damaged Thailand’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. Read more at:
