Bangkok (VNA) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is boosting safety measures for foreign tourists, particularly efforts to restore confidence among tourists from China following the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Xing.
The actor was reported missing on January 3 after arriving in Mae Sot district of Tak province in the north of Thailand for a film shoot. His case went viral, raising concerns among Chinese citizens about safety in Thailand.
Wang was rescued by Thai and Myanmar authorities on January 7, with an initial investigation revealing that a Chinese gang had conned him through the WeChat app, luring him to a film shoot in a third country via Thailand.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool acknowledged the incident’s impact on Chinese netizens but stated it had not yet affected Thai tourism.
She said five TAT offices in China are closely monitoring the situation and raising awareness about cyber threats among both Thai and Chinese citizens.
She added that the TAT is collaborating with the Thai Tourist Police to reassure tourists about safety, especially as Chinese travellers make plans for Lunar New Year celebrations in Thailand.
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.
TAT aims to attract 9 million Chinese tourists in 2025, up from 6.73 million people last year, with an ultimate target of 10 million visitors, generating 500 billion THB (14.4 billion USD) in revenue.
This projection is based on the recovery of 80% of the Thai-Chinese aviation capacity as of January this year.
However, Thapanee said challenges to the targets remain, including China’s policy encouraging domestic tourism and restrictions on public officials travelling abroad./.
