Chinese Tourists Ditch Thailand! - Kidnap scandal sparks mass flight cancellations.

[webfact]

ASEAN NOW picture for reference only

 

Thailand’s dream of welcoming nine million Chinese tourists this year is in serious trouble! The shocking kidnapping of Chinese actor Wang Xing—who was trafficked through Thailand to Myanmar—has sent shockwaves through the travel industry.

 

Fear is spreading fast! Thousands of Chinese tourists are cancelling flights, ditching Thailand for safer destinations like Japan and Singapore. In January alone, flight cancellations to Thailand skyrocketed 94%, leaving airlines scrambling.

 

Japan is the big winner! Chinese visitors flocked to Japan’s snowy slopes and hot springs, making it the top choice for Lunar New Year. The numbers don’t lie—980,000 Chinese tourists landed in Japan in January, doubling last year’s figures. Meanwhile, Thailand managed just 711,000 visitors in the same period.

 

Thai authorities are in damage control mode! They’ve cracked down on scam gangs and cybercrime rings, teaming up with Myanmar to clean up their act. But experts say the damage is done—bad press is overshadowing Thailand’s safety efforts.

 

The tourism sector is critical to Thailand’s economy, pumping in THB 2 trillion ($55 billion) a year. But if safety fears persist, Chinese arrivals could plunge to just 7.5 million, hitting the economy hard.

 

Is there hope? Maybe. Flight bookings remain down for March but show signs of recovery in April and May. To win back tourists, Thailand must go beyond Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai—showcasing hidden gems to lure visitors back.

 

As tourism expert Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun warns, Thailand must act fast or risk losing its tourism crown for good!

As reported by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-02-25

 

 

[Lorry]

We miss them badly

[Mike_Hunt]

This makes me sad. 

[Confuscious]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

But experts say the damage is done

Damage is done on many fronts and recovery will be hard for Thailand.

The Chinese kidnapping; The new TAX laws; The "crackdown" on foreigners; The "crackdown" on opening bank accounts; The crackdown on visa agents; Etc.

It seems to me that Thailand is shooting itself in the foot many times in a row.

[songhklasid]

Great, now to work on the Indians ! Lol 

rgds SS 

[ronster]

So just the scammers will come then ? 🙄

[wozzlegummich]

Is this a problem or a statement? 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Fear is spreading fast! Thousands of Chinese tourists are cancelling flights, ditching Thailand for safer destinations like Japan and Singapore. In January alone, flight cancellations to Thailand skyrocketed 94%, leaving airlines scrambling.

BS

[LivingNThailand]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

BS

Who wrote this story?  Seems a bit dramatic.

[quake]

That's a shame,

I will miss seeing them all licking the inside of the bus windows, down in pattaya. 

[spidermike007]

They won't be missed by most of us. Now, if only the same would happen with the Russians. They don't cower quite as easily. 

 

In terms of the government, it is safe to say the young PM has failed utterly. Is she doing anything at all, besides sipping vintage champagne at dinner parties? 

[fondue zoo]

 

I bet Japan is loving it.....

 

 

 

[mfd101]

So we're not going to make the 40000000 target this year? Or was that 400000000?

[thesetat]

The TAT try so hard to blame reduced numbers of Chinese tourists strictly because a handful were take to become scammers. But what about Thailands picturesque appeal. That is gone as well with smoke and pollution. If I saw pictures like Bangkok now covered in smog when i was planning to relocate here. I would have found a place a lot cleaner than Thailand. I am most certain not all of the cancellations were made out of fear of being kidnapped. Who wants to lay out in the sun wearing masks just so you can breathe.

Or go shopping and walking around with the air so thick with pollution?

[watchcat]

5 hours ago, Lorry said:

We miss them badly

 

Indeed we do....

[HappyExpat57]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

BS

That was also my immediate thought. Chinese don't care enough about other human beings. Now if the exchange rate changes drastically against them, THAT could affect tourism.

[DonniePeverley]

Chinese tourists are now looking elsewhere as they see cheap mass tourism everywhere in Thailand. 

 

Even the middle class Chinese are put off. 

 

Allowing foreigners to stay longer, allow visa free for the whole world (including India, African countries) was a barbaric mistake that has left Thailand open to cheap mass tourists that have ruined the culture, beauty, environmental beauty of the place. 

 

Furthermore, the Benidorm British and draft dodging Russians who are staying here now longer have turned the place upside down into trashy party zones. 

 

Quality tourists are heading elsewhere for their sun and peace. 

[Nickcage49]

Ahhhhh. You mean there are going to be less rude and cheap mainland Chinese tourists here? I'm very sad...

[bendejo]

See?  It's you guys posting bad things about the Chinese that turned them away!  I hope you all are proud of yourselves!

 

 

[Purdey]

Always crackdown after the damage had been done. 

- Ancient Thai proverb

[carlf]

Worries about abduction might not be the only reason for favouring Japan as a destination over Thailand. I went to Japan for holiday a few times recently and it was such a pleasure breathing fresh, clean air. I could clearly see Mt. Fuji from Tokyo, a few hundred kms away. The Japanese respect laws, don't throw trash everywhere, don't burn fields, and they recycle. I love Thailand, but those are clearly areas for major improvement if Thailand wants to attract quality tourists. 

[Robert_Smith]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thousands of Chinese tourists are cancelling flights,

....thank god for that!

 

regards,

Bob.

[StayinThailand2much]

Yeah, that's what I worry about, when travelling to Thailand - getting kidnapped... 🙄

 

Btw, I heard that Japan is currently that popular with the Chinese because of the weak yen. Maybe the baht is too strong for them... 😙

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

That was also my immediate thought. Chinese don't care enough about other human beings. Now if the exchange rate changes drastically against them, THAT could affect tourism.

Absolutely,,, 

[Caldera]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s dream of welcoming nine million Chinese tourists this year is in serious trouble!

 

Awww.

[Joe Farang]

Is it 94% of ACTUAL bookings that have been cancelled

 

Or

 

Is it that TAT predictions of tourist numbers is down by 94%

[RocketDog]

On 2/25/2025 at 3:16 AM, Lorry said:

We miss them badly

So so true!

 

Makes me wonder how easy it would be to stage fake kidnapping every few months.

Sorry. Can't help it. At my age the mind wanders.

[UbonEagle]

Long may it last - and as for them visiting hidden gems, I don't think that's high on the agenda of many Chinese tourists

[NoDisplayName]

On 2/25/2025 at 2:22 AM, webfact said:

flight cancellations to Thailand skyrocketed 94%, leaving airlines scrambling

 

This says nothing.

 

Even assuming all the alleged "cancellations" were due to the kidnap scandal, where are the actual numbers?

 

Could be out of every 100,000 bookings there are normally 100 cancellations.  Now with the scary scare, 194 bookings were cancelled.

 

Shirley nothing to do with low-cost fare promotions to Japan..........

 

1 day agoThat's right, from Japan to Korea to China, Hong Kong and Macau, they've got you. Fly to Taipei from $123*, Macau from $151*, Osaka or Nanjing from $195* or Hangzhou from $185*. Book now before the sale ends on 3 Mar 2025