# Thai-Chinese meeting addresses negative impact of movies on tourism

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/china/114704-thai-chinese-meeting-addresses-negative-impact-of-movies-on-tourism
- Published: 2023-11-29T14:37:01+07:00
- Author: Yuan Fang

The Chinese action film “No More Bets” has sparked rumors about the dangers of traveling
to Thailand. The film depicts a programmer being kidnapped and forced to develop
online scams in a country resembling Thailand.

Released in August, No More Bets is a gripping tale that delves into the lives of
unsuspecting Chinese citizens. These individuals are lured into embarking on a supposed
work excursion abroad, only to find themselves coerced into participating in illicit
activities such as running illegal online investment schemes, engaging in gambling
operations, and perpetrating cryptocurrency scams. This compelling narrative unfolds
in an undisclosed Southeast Asian nation, but very similar to Thailand.

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The movie addresses a pressing real-life issue that has become increasingly prevalent
in recent years. Coinciding with its release, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human
Rights published a [report highlighting the alarming rise of criminal gangs coercing hundreds of thousands of individuals in Southeast Asia](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/08/hundreds-thousands-trafficked-work-online-scammers-se-asia-says-un-report)
into engaging in the illicit industry.

While human trafficking and online scams do occur in Southeast Asia, there is no
evidence of large-scale operations like those depicted in [the film happening in Thailand](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/china/100168-chinese-blockbuster-could-derail-thailands-tourism-recovery).
However, the rumors have caused concern among Chinese tourists, leading to a negative
perception of the country.

![img-slide](https://b2thbz.siamnews.network/2023/11/Thai-Chinese-Conference-Tackles-
the-Adverse-Effects-of-Films-on-Tourism.jpg)

Source : [Thai-Chinese Meeting Addresses Negative Film Impact on Tourism (prd.go.th)](https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG231128113943943)

The Thai government is trying to revive its tourism industry, especially with Chinese
tourists, but the viral rumors may deter potential travelers. There have been real
incidents of abduction and ransom in Thailand, but they are isolated cases.

## Thai and Chinese Officials Address Concerns Over Negative Film Portrayal

Thai and Chinese officials recently met to discuss a Chinese film that depicted 
Thailand in a negative light, causing worry among Chinese tourists. Minister attached
to the Prime Minister’s Office Puangpet Chunlaiad informed Chinese Ambassador Han
Zhiqiang during the meeting that the film titled “No More Bets” wrongly portrayed
Thailand with illegal activities, potentially affecting Chinese tourists’ perceptions
of safety.

## Film Misrepresents Thailand, Leading to Misunderstandings on Chinese Social Media

Minister Puangpet clarified that the film was not shot in Thailand but featured 
the Thai language in some scenes, leading to misunderstandings on the Chinese social
media platform Weibo.

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A recent Weibo survey showed that 48,000 of 54,000 respondents avoided travelling
to Myanmar for security reasons. Another survey found that respondents no longer
wanted to travel to Southeast Asia, and more than 85 percent cited security concerns
as the main reason they didn’t want to travel, according to Thai daily [Krungthep Thuragit](https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/lifestyle/entertainment/1087293).

The purpose of the meeting was to address concerns among Chinese citizens regarding
the inaccuracies in the film and to highlight Thailand’s robust safety measures 
for tourists. The Thai government also emphasized the significance of maintaining
open communication with China and discussed potential collaboration between Thailand’s
Department of Public Relations and China Media Group (CMG) to counter misinformation
and enhance bilateral relations.

## China Expresses Confidence in Thailand’s Popularity as Tourist Destination

Ambassador Han Zhiqiang responded positively, assuring that Thailand remains a popular
destination for Chinese tourists and expressing confidence that this incident would
not affect their trust. He also highlighted the upcoming Chinese New Year festival
as an opportunity to strengthen travel relations between the two countries.

Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists, who accounted
for nearly 30% of the total international arrivals in 2019.However, since the outbreak
of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of Chinese visitors has plummeted, and has 
not yet recovered to the pre-crisis levels.

> [Chinese Visitor Arrivals Still Below Pre-Covid Levels](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/tourism/108848-chinese-visitor-arrivals-still-below-pre-covid-levels)