14-11-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has clarified that there are no intentions to invite Chinese police officers to patrol local tourist destinations, seeking to address concerns sparked by comments made by the country’s tourism authority. The clarification comes after the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand mentioned discussions with China about a potential joint patrol program for tourist hotspots.
During his trip to San Francisco on Monday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin assured reporters that Thailand’s collaboration with Chinese police is limited to the exchange of information about criminal networks operating in Thailand. The aim is to enhance the confidence of Chinese tourists visiting the country. The prime minister emphasized that the cooperation would not involve stationing Chinese police personnel within Thailand.
The initial comments by the Tourism Authority of Thailand led to a public outcry, with many expressing concerns about issues related to sovereignty. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attributed the controversy to a miscommunication.
Thailand has been actively working to revive its tourism industry, a crucial driver of economic growth. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese tourists constituted the largest number of foreign arrivals in Thailand. To encourage tourism, the Thai government waived visa requirements for Chinese travelers in September, extending the exemption to travelers from India and Taiwan in November, valid through May next year.
Official data reveals that Chinese arrivals in Thailand have reached 2.8 million so far this year, falling short of the government’s full-year target of 4 million to 4.4 million.
