In an unconventional strategy to recover a plummeting Chinese tourism industry post-pandemic, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has proposed a collaborative effort with Chinese law enforcement to ensure the safety of Chinese visitors in iconic Thai attractions. The initiative is a crucial part of Thailand’s plan to rebuild the trust of Chinese tourists after the alarming events surrounding the safety of Chinese nationals in the renowned Southeast Asian paradise.
With instances such as the high-profile shooting of a Chinese woman at the esteemed Siam Paragon shopping center and a spate of kidnappings targeting Chinese residents, it’s no surprise that the visa-free policy has seen a less-than-enthusiastic response from the Chinese tourist community.
In response to this fear, on the 12th of November, Prime Minister Srettha embraced a dialogue with high-ranking officials from various agencies. Amongst the attendants were representatives from the Tourist Police, Immigration Police, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister was unavailable for media comments due to his imminent travels to the United States for the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
In lieu of PM Srettha, TAT Director Thapanee Kiatpaiboon stepped forward to shed light on the meeting’s results. Ms. Thapanee revealed that the Prime Minister had been briefed extensively about Thailand’s comprehensive safety measures for foreign tourists, with particular emphasis on Chinese nationals. Further, a unique patrol project, involving officers from the Chinese police, was recommended. The details of this collaborative operation were to be outlined in a meeting with the People’s Republic of China Embassy a few days later, on the 15th of November.
Ms. Thapanee outlined an optimistic vision of the Chinese police and their Thai counterparts patrolling popular tourist areas in tandem. This novel approach intends to replicate the successful trust-building exercise seen in Italy and give Chinese tourists direct insight into the Thai authorities’ steps taken to ensure their safety. The mere presence of Chinese police officers, whose authority is highly respected by the Chinese nationals, would act as a much-needed reassurance medium.
Ambitiously, Ms. Thapanee who marshals the TAT, is predicting a surge of Chinese tourism with the launch of this initiative. Her estimates indicate an increase to anywhere between 4 to 4.4 million Chinese visitors in this year alone. The Royal Thai Police force, synonymous with maintaining peace, has also amped up its efforts by intensifying crackdowns on illicit firearms, illegal operations, and the spread of misinformation that may tarnish Thailand’s reputation.
This perspective is indicative of Thailand’s inherent commitment to reestablish itself as a safe haven for tourists, especially those from China whose numbers are integral to the country’s tourism industry. By combining their efforts with Chinese law enforcement, they hope to revive trust and reinstate Thailand as a preferred destination on the Chinese tourist’s map.
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