Bangkok: Tourism Minister admits that news about Chinese celebrities has affected Chinese tourists, causing them to cancel their trips to Thailand during the Chinese New Year, but overall, the number of Chinese tourists is still above average. Mr. Surawong Thienthong, Minister of Tourism and Sports, gave an interview about the impact on tourism during the Chinese New Year festival from news reports that Chinese celebrities entered Thailand and were taken across the border by call center gangs to neighboring countries.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Surawong stated that the Prime Minister convened a meeting with all relevant agencies to address the issue. He clarified that the individuals involved in the reported incidents were not tourists but were misled by call center gangs into working. The Chinese government is aware that these individuals did not enter Thailand as tourists.
The direct impact of the news has not been severe, but preventive measures are being taken. The Prime Minister has instructed the Royal Thai Police and Tourist Police to ensure border security and prevent similar incidents. Coordination with the Chinese Embassy and relevant Chinese agencies is crucial to presenting the facts and maintaining confidence in Thailand's safety for tourists.
While acknowledging that some groups of Chinese tourists have canceled their trips, especially those traveling in organized groups or chartered flights, most cancellations are from secondary cities. The Minister emphasized that the number of cancellations is not significant and that individual and family travelers continue to book trips. Recent figures indicate that over 20,000 Chinese tourists visit Thailand daily, surpassing last year's average of 16,000-17,000 per day.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the 2025 ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, where he will discuss and address tourism issues. The Ministry of Tourism has been coordinating with the Chinese Embassy and is focused on effectively communicating the situation to the Chinese public, recognizing the differences in communication channels.
For this year's marketing efforts, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), announced plans to collaborate with the private sector to explore new markets and promote Thai tourist attractions in China. The government aims to attract 8 million Chinese tourists this year, with a base case projection of 7.3 million for 2025. Despite negative news potentially affecting first-quarter numbers, the minimum expectation remains at 6.9 million Chinese tourists.