Thailand faces mass flight cancelations from China following actor Wang Xing's abduction

By Hoang Vu   January 13, 2025 | 08:38 pm PT
Thailand faces mass flight cancelations from China following actor Wang Xing's abduction
People pose for a photo in front of lantern decorations on Lunar New Year's Eve at Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 21, 2023. Photo by Reuters
Thailand's tourism sector is grappling with a surge in hotel and flight cancelations from Chinese tourists following the high-profile abduction of actor Wang Xing, raising concerns about the country's recovery efforts.

The number of cancelations of air tickets from China to Thailand surged 155% year-on-year last weekend, according to travel analytics firm ForwardKeys.

Nuntaporn Komonsittivate, head of commercial operations at Thai Lion Air, confirmed a significant number of cancelations from Chinese tour groups, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

In Chonburi Province, which lies southeast of Bangkok, around 40% of Chinese group bookings have been canceled, Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, head of the local tourism association, said as quoted by Bloomberg.

The cancelations stem from the disappearance of Wang, who was reported missing in early January while in Mae Sot, a Thai town bordering Myanmar.

Wang had traveled to Thailand for a film shoot but was forcibly taken across the border into Myanmar, where he was coerced into learning scamming techniques.

Thai and Myanmarese authorities rescued him last week in a joint operation.

Thai police have identified Wang as a victim of human trafficking.

This incident comes as Thailand aims to attract at least eight million Chinese tourists in 2025, up from 6.73 million in 2024.

In response, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to launch campaigns to restore confidence among Chinese tourists. She has also instructed police to intensify patrols in high-risk areas, crack down on criminal gangs, and deploy more tourist police to ensure visitor safety.

 
 
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