Tour operators hope the plan will help crack down on illegal Chinese business in Thailand. The government ’s proposal to invite Chinese police to Thailand stirred public debate this week, with some expressing concerns about allowing them to patrol alongside local police.
However, TAT Director-General Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the joint police patrol plan was just one of several proposals regarding possible cooperation between Thai and Chinese police to enhance security.
The decline in Chinese tourists in Thailand is causing the country's tourism industry to struggle to find a way to cope.
The idea was also proposed by tour operators during a visit by TAT officials to mainland China last month, but the idea has not been finalised and will be discussed with the Chinese ambassador during a meeting with TAT this week, she said.
The proposal builds on previous plans Chinese police initiated in other countries such as Croatia and Italy before the pandemic, helping to boost confidence among Chinese tourists after official cooperation was promoted and publicized by Chinese media.
The application of this law to Thailand will be based on legality and appropriate context, Ms. Thapanee said.
If the public is concerned about the joint patrols, there are other ways the police from both countries can work together, such as exchanging information on illegal business activities, which is also one of the most important issues. She said this cooperation is to address the declining confidence of Chinese tourists.
Chinese travel agencies support the plan, saying Chinese tourists will feel more confident knowing their country’s police are nearby when they travel, especially given negative safety stories on Chinese social media. Chinese arrivals to Thailand remain weak despite Thailand waiving visa requirements until next year.
“The cooperation will focus on certain periods in some places that attract a lot of Chinese tourists. Besides the security issue for tourists, we hope that the Chinese police will have the opportunity to understand the measures taken by Thailand and report back to their government, which will also help improve the situation of Chinese tourists’ confidence,” Ms. Thapanee said.
Sisdivacr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Thai Association of Travel Agents, said tour operators were unsure how much the program would help restore tourist confidence.
However, in terms of curbing illegal Chinese businesses, the problem can be solved to some extent if the Chinese authorities can share useful information with the Thai police to help them crack down on crime.
“Having Chinese police patrolling the city may not be a good idea, as Thai police are responsible for this work as well as other safety and security issues, while Chinese police can help by providing necessary support,” Mr. Sisdivasr stressed.
Thai internet users criticized the move, with most saying they were worried Thailand would become another venue for covert operations targeting other Chinese issues overseas, according to SCMP.
Addressing the controversy, Thai government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the plan was aimed at cracking down on Chinese mafia groups operating in Thailand and had nothing to do with Thailand's independence or sovereignty .
Official data shows Chinese arrivals have totaled 2.8 million so far, falling short of the government's full-year target of 4 million to 4.4 million.
Source link
Comment (0)