Safety Concerns Lead to Decline in Chinese Lunar New Year Travel to Thailand

Kidnapping fears and human trafficking reports prompt thousands of Chinese tourists to cancel trips, impacting Southeast Asia's tourism sector.

Chinese travelers have canceled over 10,000 trips to Thailand for Lunar New Year following the high-profile kidnapping of actor Wang Xing near the Thai-Myanmar border.
Net bookings for Thailand dropped 15.6% in mid-January, with other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Malaysia also experiencing cancellations to a lesser extent.
Thailand's government has launched initiatives, including an AI-generated video and a Tourist Police app, to reassure Chinese tourists of their safety.
Chinese tourists are increasingly favoring destinations like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, where bookings have risen significantly compared to previous years.
Thailand’s tourism sector, which heavily relies on Chinese visitors, faces economic challenges, with some tour guides reporting reduced demand and fewer Chinese-speaking tourists.