Bangkok Post
‘Real’ Chinese tourists won’t face kidnap risk, says minister
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Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has responded to a new Chinese travel advisory about the risk of kidnapping in Thailand, saying genuine tourists would never be targeted by criminal gangs.
Key facts
- Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has responded to a new Chinese travel advisory about the risk of kidnapping in Thailand, saying genuine tourists would never be targeted by criminal gangs.
- Safety would not be compromised for Chinese people who visited Thailand strictly for tourism purposes, he said on Tuesday, but there was concern about visitors who might have been lured to the country by promises of jobs.
- In the latter case, there have been several instances of foreigners who arrived in Thailand in response to job offers being abducted and taken across the border to work in scam centres.
- Mr Surasak conceded that the latest warning , which specifically mentioned the risk of “transport provided by others”, could damage Thailand’s tourism image and undermine Chinese visitors’ confidence.
Summary
Safety would not be compromised for Chinese people who visited Thailand strictly for tourism purposes, he said on Tuesday, but there was concern about visitors who might have been lured to the country by promises of jobs.
In the latter case, there have been several instances of foreigners who arrived in Thailand in response to job offers being abducted and taken across the border to work in scam centres.