Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Thailand’s tourism industry has been rocked by the recent abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, leaving popular hotspots like Pattaya eerily quiet. The star was allegedly lured to Thailand under false pretences before being trafficked across the border and held captive in Myawaddy, Myanmar.

 

While Thai police scrambled to rescue the actor, the fallout was swift. News of the terrifying ordeal spread like wildfire in China, sparking fears over safety in Thailand and sending shockwaves through the tourism sector. Once bustling with Chinese visitors, Pattaya is witnessing a drastic downturn in arrivals, with holidaymakers choosing to stay away.

 

Bancha Kullavanit, Executive Director of Ocean Sky Boat Tours, revealed the extent of the damage, stating that Chinese New Year 2025 saw a staggering 30% drop in Chinese tourists compared to 2024.

 

“Traditionally, this festival brings double the number of Chinese visitors, but this year, the numbers have plummeted.”

 

Chinese tourists in Pattaya generally fall into two categories—budget group tours and high-spending independent travellers (F.I.T.). However, both segments have been hit hard. While group tours have already declined due to rising costs, F.I.T. visitors, who usually enjoy luxury stays during peak seasons, have also steered clear, leaving hotels and beaches noticeably emptier than usual.

 

 

Bancha stressed that the root cause of the decline is the damaging publicity surrounding the kidnapping.

 

“The negative perception of Thailand’s safety, especially among Chinese travellers, has shattered confidence.”

 

Bancha urged the Thai government to take immediate steps to repair the country’s image.

 

With Chinese tourism playing a crucial role in Thailand’s economy, industry leaders are calling for urgent action to restore trust before the damage becomes irreversible, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Last week, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured Chinese tourists through an AI-generated video that Thailand remains a safe place to visit in a bid to retain visitor numbers from one of Thailand’s largest groups of visitors.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-29

 

 

Eerily quiet.... that's funny... 

Doesn't seem eerily quiet to me, especially regarding the Chinese! Does the reporter ever frequent any of the shopping malls around Pattaya?! The majority of people in them are Chinese! 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Chinese New Year 2025 saw a staggering 30% drop in Chinese tourists compared to 2024.

30% drop.  Is this cumulative?

If 2 more Chinese citizens get abducted for slave labor in Myanmar, would there be a combined drop of 90% in total vacationers from China?

Just wondering.

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

4 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

It changes with the wind...

In Pattaya now.  Sidewalks are crowded and Central Festival mall is always crowded.

 

 

38 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

Saw a news report saying they were substantially down....hard not to say 'good'.....it  still seems overly crowded in town. 

Any reduction in Chinese tourists in Pattaya, and in Thailand, is IMO a good thing. Last time I went to Larn the place was destroyed by the horde.

Seems strange to me. Bangkok feels very crowded this week (even more so than usually) for the Chinese New Year.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

high-spending independent travellers (F.I.T.).

FIT? 

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Any reduction in Chinese tourists in Pattaya, and in Thailand, is IMO a good thing. Last time I went to Larn the place was destroyed by the horde.

Good thing for you perhaps, but the horde are big spenders often have high paying jobs and businessmen.

Have a bit more to spend than male nurses.

Their women are quite attractive also, I would rather be surrounded by them than the western alternative.

"Bancha Kullavanit, Executive Director of Ocean Sky Boat Tours, revealed the extent of the damage, stating that Chinese New Year 2025 saw a staggering 30% drop in Chinese tourists compared to 2024."

 

This "Executive Director" is an idiot.  I have lived in Taiwan for 23 years and know the actual holiday started Tuesday / 28th, which is Chinese New Year's Eve, and then there are 3 more government official days off days plus this coming weekend. This article was released Wednesday so the only numbers they know are day 1.  It is still ongoing so this whole article is BS talking in the past tense. There is no way they know the final numbers yet, especially this Exec. Director Mr. Kullavanit!!

 

 

 

Well at least the prawns can relax. Greedy bar stewards. 😂🤣

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

Have a bit more to spend than male nurses.

is that cheap shot really necessary?

put him on ignore, beachboy!

Oh. You mean there are going to be less mainland Chinese here? Less tour busses? Really?

 

That's a damn shame...

See Lots of the Chinese in cm are thick stocky males, some with tattoos, smoking wherever they want.  Always in small groups looking tough.  My bet is they are involved in all this kidnapping and call scam center stuff.  

42 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

is that cheap shot really necessary?

put him on ignore, beachboy!

The cheap shot he made on the Chinese people?

Irony.

No not really it just seemed that way.

 

Most of them were clogging the aisles in Lotus's South choosing the best produce in family sized decision making groups.

Is it kidnapping and crime.  Sorry, they have that in China.  I have to think that it has more to do with a crapy economy

10 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Is it kidnapping and crime.  Sorry, they have that in China.  I have to think that it has more to do with a crapy economy

Exactly.  70 million people 50 get kidnapped a year so you have 1 in 1,400,000 chance of being kidnapped.  These are targeted events.  They know the individual, or family has money, crypto or something of value. Sadly I have no Chinese friends so I will miss out on the excitement.

     One tour boat operator's bookings being down doesn't automatically translate to 'Pattaya's tourism' taking a 'hit'.   Pattaya's been plenty busy with tourists all winter, with traffic often in gridlock.  Some movie star being abducted wouldn't stop me from visiting a country I wanted to visit--and I doubt it will stop many Chinese, either.  

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

 

OP was about Pattaya. Mae Sot maybe up by 3 digits compensating Pattaya! 

6 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

30% drop.  Is this cumulative?

If 2 more Chinese citizens get abducted for slave labor in Myanmar, would there be a combined drop of 90% in total vacationers from China?

Just wondering.

Same math class 

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

Statistics,statistics. You are comparing Chines New Year (numbers down) with the total number of Chinese that arrived this season (numbers up)

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

It changes with the wind...

As my Ma would always say when she blew..where 'er ya be let yer wind go free....and she did ..oh yes...she did

7 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Eerily quiet.... that's funny... 

Indeed.

Hotel prices and occupation please follow.

Checked this morning and wasn't that easy.

It's obvious where such article highlights come from.

Not allowed to comment.

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

FIT? 

Spending High, Independent Travellers.. SH one T???

Less is good for the Prawns 🤣🤣

6 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

But recently read a report that Chinese visitor numbers were up 20% from last year, make your mind up ............LOL

They are probably just referring to the lunar new year numbers