Space Industry and Business News
TRADE WARS
Thailand seeks to quell fears of Chinese tourists
Thailand seeks to quell fears of Chinese tourists
by AFP Staff Writers
Bangkok (AFP) Jan 17, 2025

Thailand sought to dampen safety concerns among potential Chinese tourists on Friday as fears mounted over reported kidnappings on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Scam compounds have mushroomed in Myanmar's borderlands and are staffed by foreigners who are often trafficked and forced to work, swindling their compatriots in an industry analysts say is worth billions of dollars.

Concerns were raised after reports that Chinese actor Wang Xing was allegedly trafficked into a cyber-fraud centre in Myanmar's Myawaddy town, just across the Thai border in early January.

Myanmar authorities handed him over to Thai police days later, Thai local media said.

Another Chinese, Yang Zeqi, a model, went missing last month and was found this week, swirling fears on Chinese social media with netizens saying Thailand was a "dangerous" place.

A senior Thai police officer Pittayakorn Petcharat told AFP he had reports that Yang "returned to China from Myanmar" on Thursday, but gave no further details.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Friday said the government would enhance safety standards to combat transnational crime citing reports of illegal organ trafficking, call centre scams and zero-dollar tours.

"Though such incidents were not caused by Thai people, they have raised safety concerns among Chinese tourists," she said in a post on X, adding that she welcomed all Chinese tourists to celebrate Lunar New Year in Thailand.

Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch on Friday called the scam centres -- which have spread from Cambodia to Laos and the Myanmar border areas -- "one of the most pressing regional crises the region is facing".

The Thai government has promised to boost confidence by strengthening safety measures, it said in a statement Friday.

"Every sector will ramp up its security and services to facilitate tourism (in Thailand)," it said.

According to Thai media, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is looking to recruit Chinese influencers to improve the kingdom's image to Chinese social media users and would-be visitors.

China remained at the top of Thailand's tourist numbers list in the first two weeks of January, comprising almost a sixth of the 1.3 million arrivals.

The Thai government anticipates a further seven percent rise in Chinese tourists during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday period, which is expected to add 8.8 billion baht ($255 million) to the kingdom's income.

tak-sjc/tc/sn

X

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
US trade envoy finds China's shipbuilding policies warrant 'urgent action'
Washington (AFP) Jan 17, 2025
The US Trade Representative said Thursday that its probe into China's practices in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors found that Beijing's undermining of fair competition warranted "urgent action." The conclusion comes after the USTR launched an investigation last year, responding to a petition by five unions. "Beijing's targeted dominance of these sectors undermines fair, market-oriented competition, increases economic security risks, and is the greatest barrier to revitalization ... read more

TRADE WARS
The video games bedeviling Elon Musk

New filter captures and recycles aluminum from manufacturing waste

Study uncovers gold's journey from Earth's mantle to surface

Gamers tear into Musk for 'faking' video game prowess

TRADE WARS
Controversy in Italy over potential deal with Musk's SpaceX

Quadsat and NATO NCIA validate Quadsat system for WGS compliance testing

ESA to support development of secure EU communications satellite constellation

IRIS2 contract signed to strengthen Europe's space connectivity and security

TRADE WARS
TRADE WARS
SpaceX launches Space Force Rapid Response Trailblazer

GPS alternative for drone navigation leverages celestial data

Deciphering city navigation AI advances GNSS error detection

China advances next-generation BeiDou satellite navigation system

TRADE WARS
South Korea begins lifting Jeju Air wreckage after fatal crash

Black box of Azerbaijan crashed plane sent to Brazil for investigation: authorities

Several airlines cancel flights to Russia after Azerbaijan Airlines crash

Airbus US Space and Defense partners with Aerostar to advance stratospheric ISR technologies

TRADE WARS
Physicists measure quantum geometry for the first time

Fast control methods enable record-setting fidelity in superconducting qubit

China to probe US chips over dumping, subsidies; Estonia, Lithuania spitting chips

Brand new physics advances next generation spintronics

TRADE WARS
NASA grant awarded to enhance AI-driven satellite weather forecasting

Transforming earth observation data into water security solutions for Africa

SIIS Signs MOU with Pixxel to Expand Hyperspectral Data Solutions in Korea

Uruguay bucks 2024 global warming trend

TRADE WARS
Oil spill reaches Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region: official

Heavy fuel oil makes Black Sea spill hard to clean up

The ancient copper industry in King Solomon's mines did not pollute the environment

Hazardous cargo ship represents 'no danger' to I. Coast, says port

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.