Thai Tourism Unfazed by Security Warnings, More Concerned with Scams

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File photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Following the recent deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China, several countries have issued security advisories to their citizens suggesting caution while in Thailand. However, the Thai tourism sector seems largely unfazed by these warnings, focusing instead on the rising concern of cyber-scams impacting traveler confidence.

 

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has initiated surveys among its members to assess any potential dip in bookings due to reduced tourist trust. This move comes in the wake of security alerts, including those from the US Embassy in Bangkok and the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which highlighted the Erawan Shrine bombing in 2015—a tragic incident believed to have links to Thailand’s past Uyghur deportations.

 

Despite these advisories, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), expects only a temporary disruption to tourism. He contends that the current threat of call centre scams is posing a more significant challenge to the industry. Scam-related anxiety has been escalating, with destinations such as Taiwan branding Thailand as high-risk.

 

As of now, no substantial decline in tourist numbers from key markets like Japan, the US, Europe, and Taiwan has been observed. These markets predominantly consist of seasoned travellers comfortable with touring Thailand independently or in small groups. However, there is some concern that the depreciation of the yen might affect Japanese tourism, given the increased costs of international travel.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong has tasked the Tourism Authority of Thailand's offices in Japan with keeping a close watch on travel sentiment. So far, the security warnings have not significantly affected travel plans.

 

Adding to the call for action against scams, Mr. Sisdivachr highlights the imperative for the government to intensify efforts to combat fraudulent call centre operations, which particularly undermine Chinese tourists' confidence.

 

While there have been no reports of mass cancellations, hotels across Thailand are proactively strengthening security protocols as a precaution. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, THA president, noted that the THA is in the process of collecting feedback on the advisories' impact, advising security enhancements at pivotal tourist locations to forestall serious incidents like those from the past.

 

As of early March, Thailand has already welcomed over 7 million international visitors in 2023, with Chinese tourists accounting for roughly a million of this figure—a notable 5.9% rise from the previous year. The industry remains optimistic, banking on robust recovery plans and enhanced security measures to maintain its growth trajectory amidst ongoing challenges, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-05