Government urged to boost domestic tourism as war in middle-east hits arrivals

2 Oct 01:52 Key points summarised by AI

Thai tourism officials urge the government to implement stimulus packages to boost domestic travel, counteracting potential declines in international tourist arrivals due to global conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war.
The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) suggests promoting diverse domestic destinations beyond major hubs to encourage more Thais to explore the country.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) projects 28 million total tourist arrivals for the year, significantly below pre-COVID levels, citing economic issues in key markets like China and Japan, and expressing concern over the war's impact on traveler confidence.
Officials also emphasize the need to quickly improve Thailand's image as an unsafe destination, particularly as portrayed on Chinese social media, to attract more visitors from crucial markets.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.