Another missing Chinese tourist shocks Thailand tourism

Thailand faces challenges as Chinese tourists go missing, hurting tourism. The incident has raised safety concerns, leading to flight and event cancellations. Safety measures are being stepped up to reassure visitors.

Similar journey to the actor kidnapping case

A Chinese man named Weidong traveled to Thailand to search for his 21-year-old daughter after she mysteriously disappeared. On January 13, he announced that his daughter had been rescued and returned to China safely. Weidong expressed gratitude to Thai officials for their assistance in tracking her down and ensuring her safety. The incident shocked Thai tourism and drew great public attention to the security situation, following the kidnapping of a Chinese actress.

Previously, Mr. Weidong feared that his daughter might become a victim of human traffickers like actress Wang Xing, so he officially sent a request for help to the national police chief - General Kittirat Phanpet at the Royal Thai Police headquarters on January 8, according to Khaosod .

Mr. Weidong shows a photo of his daughter at the Royal Thai Police headquarters on January 8, 2025. Five days later, the girl was safely rescued and returned to China.

PHOTO: KHAOSOD

A Thai police investigation found that Ms Jiaqi, a recent university graduate and travelling abroad for the first time, was accompanied by a friend she had met on social media - someone her family had never met. She was lured in a similar way to Chinese actress Wang Xing, who was previously rescued from Myanmar.

After landing in Thailand at around 4 a.m. on January 6, she contacted her mother via WeChat, sharing her location and plans to stay in the Don Mueang area.

When her mother warned her about the dangers of traveling to Myanmar, Jiaqi replied, “I’m not stupid,” and reassured her, “I wouldn’t dare go to Myanmar.” She continued to contact her family throughout the morning, but abruptly stopped at 4 p.m. After 24 hours of silence, her father flew to Thailand.

An examination of CCTV footage showed a white Toyota Alphard picking Jiaqi up at Suvarnabhumi Airport and taking her to a hotel – not in Don Mueang but in the Lat Krabang area. Hotel records showed she checked in at 5am and checked out just four hours later – at 9am.

Police reviewed CCTV footage from the Lat Krabang hotel to track her movements after checking out. They eventually found her in the same location as actress Wang Xing and rescued her from the notoriously dangerous area.

Thai tourism in trouble

In an article, Bloomberg commented that the recent high-profile kidnapping of a Chinese actor in Thailand has reduced the country's appeal to tourists just weeks before the biggest annual holiday for some countries in the region - Lunar New Year.

Chinese actor Wang Xing returns home after rescue

PHOTO: KHAOSOD

Many Chinese tourists are choosing to stay away from Thailand during the eight-day Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on January 29, due to safety concerns. Flight cancellations from China to Thailand jumped 155% over the weekend compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from travel analytics firm ForwardKeys.

The cancellation was sparked by the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Xing in a Thai town bordering Myanmar in early January. He was later rescued by Thai police from a scam centre where he had been lured by human traffickers.

News of his plight spread on social media, with some people saying they were cancelling plans to visit the country.

Hong Kong singer Eason Chan has canceled a sold-out concert in Bangkok originally scheduled for February 22, citing safety concerns for Chinese fans traveling to Thailand. Comedian Zhao Benshan has also postponed a performance in Bangkok on the same day.

Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, head of the tourism association in Chonburi province (where Pattaya is located), south of the capital Bangkok, said 30% to 40% of Chinese tour groups had canceled hotel reservations in the area.

While the fallout may be short-lived, the incident has dealt another blow to the Chinese tourism industry in Thailand.

The actor’s kidnapping has also rattled investors. The Bangkok index of travel and leisure stocks has fallen 9% since the start of 2025, compared with a 3.4% decline for the benchmark.

Thailand tourism is losing customers after recent safety incidents

PHOTO: STRAITS TIMES

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has expressed its determination to improve safety and welcome Chinese tourists during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Natthriya Thaweevong, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports , said that government agencies have stepped up measures to ensure the safety of foreign tourists.

Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai visited Thai-Myanmar border towns over the weekend to coordinate efforts to stop cross-border human trafficking.

This is the area where the Chinese actor was kidnapped, famous as a center of illegal criminal activities, specializing in drug trafficking, illegal casinos and fraud centers.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/them-du-khach-trung-quoc-bi-mat-tich-gay-chan-dong-du-lich-thai-lan-1852501171026369.htm