Blockbuster movie scares Chinese tourists away from Thailand

This picture taken on Sept 10, 2023 shows a Thai tour guide (centre) along with a group of Chinese tourists inside the Grand Palace in Bangkok. - AFP

BANGKOK (AFP): For millions of Chinese tourists, Thailand used to be a happy land of water fights, lantern festivals and delicious food.

But thanks to social media rumours and a blockbuster movie, the kingdom's image among many Chinese people is now one of dangerous illegality and seedy scam border compounds -- leaving visitor numbers plummeting.