(Singapore, 24 Jan 2025) Recent reports of tourists being trafficked to fraudulent scam centers in Myanmar have severely damaged Thailand’s image and tourism industry.
In response, Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has not only urged relevant authorities to combat cross-border crime but also used artificial intelligence (AI) to record a video speaking Chinese in an effort to restore tourists’ confidence in the safety of traveling to Thailand.
Chinese actor Wang Xing was recently lured to a scam center in Myanmar under the guise of a work opportunity after traveling to Thailand. Following media coverage of the incident, Wang was successfully rescued with the joint efforts of both Chinese and Thai authorities. Similarly, Taiwanese fire dancer Xie Yuepeng was also trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar but was freed through collaboration between Taiwanese and Thai police.
The related news has significantly impacted the confidence of Chinese tourists in traveling to Thailand. Recently, there has been a surge in flight cancellations and tour group withdrawals from Chinese travelers, further damaging Thailand’s image and impacting its tourism market.
Tourism is a vital sector of Thailand’s economy, with Chinese tourists being a major part of the country’s tourism industry. From January 1 to December 27 last year, Thailand welcomed over 35.04 million tourists, with Chinese visitors accounting for 6.67 million, the highest number. Taiwan ranked seventh with 1.08 million visitors. The Thai government has set a target of reaching 39 million tourists this year, with Chinese tourists expected to number between 8.8 million and 9.9 million.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn recently convened a meeting with leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Police, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to discuss response policies and measures. She also emphasized the need to strengthen efforts against cross-border crime.
In a further attempt to assure tourists of Thailand’s safety, the Prime Minister’s office released a video today in which Paetongtarn personally guarantees the safety of tourism in Thailand.
Notably, the office utilized AI technology to allow Paetongtarn, who does not speak Chinese, to deliver the message in Chinese. In the video, Paetongtarn stated: “Recently, incidents of Chinese citizens being lured to scam centers in surrounding areas of Thailand have raised widespread concerns among Chinese tourists regarding safety and human trafficking. As the Prime Minister, I assure you that the Thai government prioritizes the safety of all tourists.”
She further stated that she has urged relevant authorities to strengthen cooperation, improve safety standards, and effectively combat transnational crime.
The government will strictly enforce laws against illegal immigration and provide systematic, comprehensive support for Chinese tourists visiting Thailand to prevent accidents. She emphasized that the Thai government is highly focused on tourist safety and aims to restore confidence among all visitors.
Paetongtarn is scheduled to visit China next month, and according to The Nation, tourism safety is expected to be one of the key topics during her visit.
