22-1-2025 (BANGKOK) The Thai government has deployed artificial intelligence technology to address growing safety concerns among Chinese tourists, releasing a digitally generated video of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaking Mandarin Chinese.
The video, posted Wednesday on the government’s official Facebook page, features an AI-created likeness of the Prime Minister delivering a message aimed at alleviating fears stemming from recent reports of kidnappings along the Thai-Myanmar border.
“We understand the apprehension caused by recent incidents near our borders,” the AI-generated Prime Minister states in fluent Mandarin, a language the actual PM does not speak. “I want to personally assure you that Thailand considers tourist safety our paramount concern.”
The diplomatic initiative comes at a crucial time as Thailand prepares for the lucrative Lunar New Year period, with Chinese visitors representing a vital segment of the kingdom’s tourism sector. Recent statistics show Chinese tourists accounted for nearly one-sixth of Thailand’s 1.3 million international arrivals in early January 2025.
The timing of this digital outreach is particularly significant following alarming reports of Chinese nationals being trafficked into cyber-fraud operations in Myanmar’s border regions. These criminal enterprises, which analysts estimate generate billions in illegal proceeds, have sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media platforms, with some users labelling Thailand as “unsafe” for travellers.
Tourism authorities project a 7 per cent increase in Chinese visitors during the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, potentially generating additional revenue of 8.8 billion baht for the Thai economy.
