The kingdom has sought to dampen safety concerns among potential Chinese tourists as fears mounted over reported kidnappings on the Thai-Myanmar border.
Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar’s borderlands, staffed by foreigners who are often trafficked and forced to work, swindling their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.
Concerns were raised after reports that Chinese actor Wang Xing was allegedly trafficked into a cyber-fraud centre in Myanmar’s Myawaddy town, just across the Thai border early this month.
Myanmar authorities handed him over to Thai police days later, Thai local media said.
Another Chinese, model Yang Zeqi went missing last month and was found this week, swirling fears on Chinese social media with netizens saying Thailand was a “dangerous” place.
Senior Thai police officer Pittayakorn Petcharat said he had received reports that Yang “returned to China from Myanmar” on Thursday, but gave no further details.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Friday said the government would enhance safety standards to combat transnational crime, citing reports of illegal organ trafficking, call centre scams as well as zero-dollar tours.
“Though such incidents were not caused by Thai people, they have raised safety concerns among Chinese tourists,” she said in a post on X, adding that she welcomed all Chinese tourists to celebrate Lunar New Year in Thailand.
Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch on Friday called the scam centres – which have spread from Cambodia to Laos and Myanmar’s border areas – “one of the most pressing regional crises the region is facing”.
The Thai government has promised to boost confidence by strengthening safety measures, it said in a statement on Friday.
“Every sector will ramp up its security and services to facilitate tourism (in Thailand),” it said.
Thai media said the Tourism Authority of Thailand is looking to recruit Chinese influencers to improve the kingdom’s image to Chinese social media users and would-be visitors. — AFP
