Tourism Authority of Thailand Monitors Chinese Tourism Amid Actors Disappearance Ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year

National —

On January 15th, 2024, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is assessing the impact of the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Xing at the Thai-Myanmar border on January 3rd, which created a stir on Chinese social media.

Xing was found safe on January 7th, but the incident raised concerns about safety among Chinese tourists ahead of Lunar New Year 2025.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool estimates that the holiday period will generate 40.66 billion baht, a 10% increase from last year. From January 24th to February 2nd, 1.35 million international tourists are expected, including 287,000 Chinese visitors, generating 8.8 billion baht, a 9% year-over-year rise.

While some group tours canceled bookings after the incident, Thai Hotels Association President Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun noted that these cancellations are minor. Independent travelers (F.I.T.) have shown steady booking trends, with reservations continuing to grow as the holiday nears.

Thailand remains a top destination for Chinese travelers, supported by visa exemptions, competitive airfare, warm weather, and cultural events. Highlights include illuminated celebrations on Yaowarat Road, marking 50 years of Thai-China diplomatic relations, and increased flight capacity from China to key destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Surat Thani.

Domestic travel is also projected to rise, with 2.2 million Thai visitors expected during January 28th to 29th, generating 6.3 billion baht.

The Tourism Authority has also stressed that those impacted in the abductions were not genuine tourists but people seeking work, mostly illegal, in Thailand or Myanmar. They have also stressed the situation was mostly in remote and rarely visited border areas and not tourist hotspots like Phuket or Pattaya.

This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.

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Kittisak Phalaharn
Kittisak has a passion for outgoings no matter how tough it will be, he will travel with an adventurous style. As for his interests in fantasy, detective genres in novels and sports science books are parts of his soul. He works for Pattaya News as the latest writer.