The splendour of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai never fails to mesmerise its visitors as they make three clockwise rounds of the pagoda. The scent of incense and candles fill the air as people from different cultures mingle and marvel at Thailand’s exquisite heritage. However, recent events have made hoteliers and tourism entrepreneurs voice out their concerns over the security measures in place. They are urgining the government to reconsider their approach to gun control in a bid to rekindle tourist confidence, particularly from China.
On October 3, a tragic shooting took place at the popular Siam Paragon shopping mall, resulting in the loss of three lives. The incident, unfortunately, involved a Chinese tourist and has since caused around 60,000 Chinese tourists to cancel their trips to Thailand, impacting the economy. With China being a significant contributor to Thailand’s tourism sector, with around 11 million Chinese travellers before the pandemic, the present 9.2% decrease in visitors is noticeable.
Interestingly, Chiang Mai sets the benchmark for attracting the maximum volume of Chinese tourists, triggering five Chinese airline companies to launch routes to this destination. Any unforeseen events that diminish trust amongst Chinese tourists are, therefore, a source of worry for tourism entrepreneurs and officials in Chiang Mai.
In the aftermath of the recent incident, discussions are ongoing amongst stakeholders in the tourism industry. Chutidech Promkaewngarm, an assistant manager at Standard Tour Co Ltd, recognises the dip in confidence amongst tourists, as posts started appearing on Chinese social media platforms questioning the legality of gun possession in Thailand and sharing their experiences.
Somrit Haikum, the managing director at Pacific World Chiangmai, affirms that prevention is better than cure. With the shooting being an uncommon sight for tourists, strict gun control policies are vital to prevent such incidents in the future. A swift corrective approach will ensure this incident does not staunchly impact tour operators and entrepreneurs who solely depend on tourism for their livelihood.
The president of the Northern Thai Hotel Association, Paisarn Sukcharoen, echoes similar sentiments. He underlines how over 30% of hotel bookings were postponed immediately after the incident and advocates implementing gun control measures that will infuse confidence in tourists.
The industry’s focus is now on restoring a healthy tourism environment. There’s optimism that implementing visa exemptions through the high season until February next year will attract more tourists from not just China, but Kazakhstan as well. However, the tourism sector in Thailand expects continuous evaluation and adaptation to reinforce its standing as a safe, welcoming destination for all tourists worldwide.
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