Accra:Tourism Minister Surasak Panjaroenvorakul has expressed concern over an incident involving the abduction of Chinese tourists, suspecting they were deceived from their point of origin. He has promised to enhance security measures through improved information exchange.
According to Thai News Agency, Surasak responded to a warning issued by the Chinese Embassy regarding the safety of Chinese tourists in Thailand. He assured that tourist safety is a primary concern under the Prime Minister's policy. Surasak asserted that if tourists are genuinely visiting for tourism, they would not be abducted or forced across borders, suggesting that some incidents might result from exploitation in their home country.
Surasak emphasized that Thailand has strict border checkpoints and will not serve as a transit point for transnational crime. He plans to coordinate with Chinese authorities to address any persisting concerns, reaffirming the importance of Chinese tourists to Thailand. He reassured that Thailand treats Chinese tourists with the same respect as tourists from other countries, questioning why similar incidents have not occurred elsewhere. He concluded that genuine visitors to Thailand should not face such abduction incidents.