Chinese Tourists Weigh Options for Thailand Travel Amid Safety Concerns Following Wang Xing’s Incident

Chinese actor Wang Xing (right) interacts with Thai police officers following his return to Thailand in Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand, on January 7, 2025. Photo: VCG

The incident involving Chinese actor Wang Xing and human trafficking in Thailand has dampened the enthusiasm of certain Chinese tourists for visiting Thailand, with some even cancelling planned trips at significant costs. Although it’s understandable that some travelers are hesitant about traveling to Thailand now, many repeat visitors to the destination expressed hope that Thai authorities would take concrete measures to combat traffickers, thereby alleviating tourists’ concerns.

On Sunday, Wu Zhiwu, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, conferred with Thailand’s Senior Inspector General, Thatchai Pitaneelaboot. Thatchai provided Wu with updates on Thai police efforts in the case concerning a missing Chinese national and reiterated Thailand’s dedication to further enhancing the prevention and suppression of transnational crimes. Wu commended Thailand’s resolve and initiatives to guarantee the safety of Chinese nationals, according to a statement from the Chinese Embassy on Sunday.

Both parties engaged in thorough discussions on improving collaboration to jointly tackle transnational crimes, such as telecom fraud and human trafficking, as indicated in the statement.

According to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), the number of Chinese tourists may decline by 10 to 20 percent during the forthcoming Lunar New Year festivities due to safety apprehensions among travelers, following the incident where actor Wang Xing recently became a victim of a human trafficking ring utilizing Thailand as a transit point, as reported by the Thai media outlet Bangkok Post.

A travel agency owner in Yangzhou, located in East China’s Jiangsu Province, with the surname Cao, informed the Global Times that over 50 percent of her clients had cancelled their reservations to Thailand after the disappearance of Chinese actor Wang Xing near the Thai-Myanmar border.

A woman with the surname Fu shared with a reporter from the Global Times that she had intentions of taking her parents on a journey to Bangkok and Phuket during the Spring Festival holidays; however, her parents became unwilling to travel to Thailand upon learning about Wang Xing’s predicament. Fu had already secured flights and accommodations for the entire trip, but she could now only cancel her plans and accept a loss of 10,000 yuan ($1,364).

Another netizen, who opted to remain anonymous, informed the Global Times that she intended to visit Chiang Mai; however, due to the city’s proximity to Myanmar and safety concerns, she too canceled her planned trip, preferring to postpone her visit until Thailand becomes safer.

Some online travel agencies indicated they have also been impacted by the recent alleged trafficking incident. The owner of an agency offering diving packages in Thailand told the Global Times that approximately five percent of clients had temporarily cancelled their reservations. Conversely, other agencies that custom-tailor travel itineraries reported that order sales experienced minimal effects.

Travel agencies providing services to Thailand emphasized that standard group tours are safe, provided that tourists avoid border areas and refrain from staying out late at night.

Wu Yuan, a regular traveler to Thailand, expressed to the Global Times that her past experiences visiting Thailand remain memorable, adding that she hopes Thai authorities will execute effective measures against traffickers, helping to diminish tourists’ anxieties.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Friday that Thailand places great significance on tourist safety and will strive to provide Chinese visitors with a high-quality travel experience. The TAT will collaborate closely with relevant authorities, including governmental and private sectors, to jointly work towards facilitating and safeguarding the safety of all tourists visiting Thailand, as stated in the announcement.

Safety is paramount when it comes to travel; it’s understandable that some tourists are adopting a cautious approach regarding travel to Thailand, remarked Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, in a statement to the Global Times on Sunday.