Thailand Hit by Wang Xing Case with Eason Chan’s Concert Cancelation

Thailand
Tourists queue up to board boats heading to Koh Kood island in Trat Province.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s tourism industry faces mounting pressure following two high-profile incidents involving Chinese celebrities. Chinese actor Wang Xing was lured to Thailand by a scammer gang and taken across the border to Myanmar. Although Thai police later managed to rescue him, the incident has created a wave of fear among Chinese people, including Hong Kong superstar Eason Chan, who cancelled his concert due to concerns about the safety of his fans traveling to Thailand.

Thianprasith Chaipattaranan, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said that the case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who went missing near the Thai-Myanmar border and was later found safe and sound, has raised concerns among foreign tourists, especially Chinese visitors, about the perception of safety in Thailand.

He emphasized that the incident could have long-term consequences if not addressed immediately. The Thai government needs to crack down on criminal groups entering through land and air borders to prevent incidents rather than reacting after they occur. As the Chinese market is very sensitive to security issues, widespread negative news on online platforms could deter Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand.

eason chan
Promotional poster of Hong Kong artist Eason Chan’s FEAR and DREAMS World Tour concert in Bangkok, originally scheduled for February 22 but cancelled on January 10 following the Wang Xing incident.

Booking Declines Begin

Thianprasith pointed out that hotels in regions such as eastern Thailand have already seen bookings canceled following the incident. The cancelation of Hong Kong artist Eason Chan’s FEAR and DREAMS World Tour concert in Bangkok in February on the grounds that the safety of the artist, crew and fans was at risk has also led to a short-term drop in bookings from Chinese tourists.

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There are concerns that the Chinese market could continue to suffer from this negative safety perception in 2025. Hotels in the south that cater to individual Chinese travelers (FIT) have seen minimal impact, while hotels for group travel in destinations such as Phuket have struggled with significant cancellations. However, as the Chinese group travel market has not yet fully recovered, the impact for some hotels remains limited.

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Chinese tourists pose in traditional Thai costumes with Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) in Bangkok as a backdrop on October 22, 2024.

Bangkok Hit Hardest

“When unexpected incidents occur, the authorities must act quickly to show that the government takes such matters seriously. This has a clear impact on tourism,” explained Thianprasith.

Data from Trip.com shows a high number of hotel cancellations in Bangkok following the cancelation of Eason Chan’s concert in February, although tickets have been sold out since December 2024.

Chinese Tourist Growth Uncertain

Sitthiwat Cheewaratanaporn, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (ATTA), said that although the Chinese market is slowly recovering, it is not booming. The situation around the Chinese New Year on January 29 will be crucial to assess the impact of the recent negative news. The disappearance of XingXing near the Thai-Myanmar border could deter Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand, despite his safe return.

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Chinese tourists pose for a group photo at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan, Thailand, March 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

He emphasized the need for close monitoring, especially for potential first-time tourists or those who are influenced by friends or family to visit Thailand in group tours. Individual travelers (FIT) tend to be more confident and less influenced by negative news. While group travel has not yet fully recovered, the spread of negative news could still affect the market as positive news travels slower than negative news.

Sitthiwat also highlighted the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) ambitious target of attracting 9 million Chinese tourists by 2025, describing it as very optimistic under the current conditions. The Chinese government has been promoting domestic tourism and attracting foreign visitors, including a significant increase in Thai tourists traveling to China after the visa waiver.

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In addition, China continues to develop new man-made attractions to boost the domestic economy, further complicating Thailand’s efforts to achieve this goal. To achieve the goal, Thailand needs to focus on restoring confidence in security and improving safety measures for tourists.

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