Concerns over safety have led to a drop in Chinese interest in Thailand as a travel destination, particularly ahead of the Lunar New Year travel season, following a widely publicised kidnapping incident.
Chinese actor Wang Xing went missing shortly after arriving in Thailand for work last week. Thai authorities rescued him on 7 January 2025 from a scam operation in Myanmar, where he had been trafficked after being lured to the region under false pretenses. According to police, Wang had been transported across the Thai-Myanmar border and forced to participate in a scam targeting other Chinese nationals.
The case has prompted significant discussions on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu. A search for "How do I cancel my Thailand trip?" resulted in over 380,000 posts. Shawna Li, a Zhejiang resident, shared that she and her friends cancelled their planned trip, citing safety concerns. "We changed our mind because of basic safety concerns, especially since we are four women travelling together," Li explained.
A manager at a Shanghai branch of travel platform Ctrip confirmed a decline in bookings to Thailand, with only one group tour departing this month, involving just a dozen participants. "In the short term, this will certainly affect travel confidence," the manager stated.
The Thai government has responded by intensifying efforts to tackle such crimes. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra urged swift action to address the issue and mitigate potential damage to Thailand’s tourism industry.
Chinese tourists represent Thailand’s largest inbound market, with 6.73 million arrivals recorded in 2024. However, the Association of Thai Travel Agents estimates a 10–20% decline in Chinese visitors during the upcoming holiday season due to heightened safety concerns.