Once considered a tourism hotspot for Chinese travellers, Thailand's
image is facing a significant downturn due to social media rumours and a
blockbuster movie, according to a Channel News Asia report.
The country relies heavily on tourism, particularly from China,
having welcomed over 10 million Chinese visitors annually before the
Covid-19 pandemic.
However, viral rumours on social media suggest that tourists may be
at risk of kidnapping and forced labour in scamming compounds in
neighbouring countries like Myanmar or Cambodia. These rumours have left
many Chinese travellers concerned about their safety in Thailand.
'No More Bets', a high-intensity thriller loosely based on real
events, has exacerbated these concerns. The film follows a Chinese
computer programmer trafficked to a violent Southeast Asian scam
compound resembling Thailand.
While the movie reflects some truth about online scams targeting
Chinese nationals in Southeast Asia, the film's portrayal of tourists
being abducted during their vacations is largely exaggerated.
Despite these fears, Thailand has taken measures to boost its tourism
industry, offering temporary visa-free travel for Chinese tourists.
However, negative online chatter continues to impact tourism numbers.
Thailand welcomed a record-breaking 11 million Chinese tourists in
2019, accounting for a quarter of all visitors that year. Since the
start of 2023, only 2.3 million Chinese tourists have visited the
country.
Travel agents in China are shifting their focus from international
travel to promoting domestic tours. Domestic travel is gaining
popularity among younger Chinese travellers as an alternative to
international trips.
While the fear of scams and safety concerns have affected Chinese
tourists' willingness to travel abroad, many argue that the reality in
Thailand does not match the exaggerated rumours.
Despite the challenges, Thailand is working to rebuild its reputation
as a safe and welcoming destination for travellers, including
implementing a temporary 30-day visa exemption for visitors from China and Kazakhstan from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024.