Recently, the news that a male model restaurant in Thailand is suspected of selling people has attracted widespread attention, and some netizens said that after a number of domestic Internet celebrity bloggers checked in to the store, the video was interrupted and in a state of missing contact, and then the relevant claims about "Kawaizi" circulated on the Internet. This claim was later officially confirmed as a rumor. However, the safety issue related to tourism in Thailand still arouses heated discussions among netizens. On March 23, the Royal Thai Embassy in China issued a notice to clarify misunderstandings and said that Thailand attaches great importance to the quality and safety of Chinese tourists and will make every effort to maintain and guarantee the safety of tourists. Recently, the New Yellow River reporter interviewed Chinese in Thailand, tour guides and tourists to discuss the safety of tourism to Thailand. The New Yellow River reporter also learned through a number of travel agencies that Thailand is still a popular country for outbound travel, and the May Day holiday will usher in a new peak period for tourism to Thailand.
Thailand refuted rumors about the "Kawaist", and many parties spoke out one after another
According to previous media reports, some netizens posted that the Douyin account of Internet celebrity Miss has not been updated for 10 days since March 12, and its last video was in a male model restaurant in Thailand. Another netizen said that the last video of "Mei Qi 777" was updated on March 9, which is also a restaurant in Thailand. A number of domestic Internet celebrity bloggers appeared in a similar situation, and then the news about "a suspected selling transaction in a male model restaurant in Thailand" spread on the Internet. The New Yellow River reporter learned by inquiring about some blogger social accounts provided by netizens that these Internet celebrity bloggers who had gone to the restaurant to check in have updated their videos, most of their IP addresses are displayed in China, and many bloggers have also "reported safety" through videos. On March 23, the staff of the Chengdu office of the National Tourism Administration of Thailand responded that "Thai male model restaurant 'Kawaizi'" and other claims are rumors. ”
Image from the Internet
"The restaurant of 'Kawaizi' is also available in the local source market. After the epidemic was released, Chinese tourists followed, and many short video bloggers rushed to check in, making this already lively restaurant more interesting. At present, this Internet celebrity restaurant is still open normally, and the flow of customers is not decreasing. Mr. Zhang, a Chinese who has worked in Thailand for 11 years, told the New Yellow River reporter that he did not agree with the incident on the Internet, and he believed that this was a lie fabricated by some bloggers without factual basis in order to blog traffic, "pure nonsense."
On March 23, the Royal Thai Embassy in China issued a statement saying that Thailand attaches great importance to the quality and safety of Chinese tourists' tourism and the good impression of Thailand. It is important that the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing clarify misunderstandings about content and comments about unsafe travel. "Our museum reiterates that since the People's Republic of China allowed Chinese tourists to travel abroad, Thailand has been fully prepared to receive Chinese tourists and has added many communication channels for Chinese tourists to facilitate and secure tourists to obtain information in Thailand and inform the tourism police of emergencies."
Regarding the recent videos and remarks related to tourism in Thailand on social networks, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand said on the 25th that it has noticed the so-called serious security risks of tourism in Thailand on social media, and also noted the clarification of the Thai government, tourism authorities and diplomatic agencies in China. Thailand is a friendly neighbor of China, and Thailand attaches great importance to Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, and makes efforts from all aspects to provide Chinese tourists with a safe environment and a comfortable and good tourism experience. The Embassy in Thailand maintains close communication and contact with the tourism safety department of the Thai side, and will, as always, spare no effort to safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Thailand.
Thailand is still a popular outbound travel country, and group bookings are not affected
The New Yellow River reporter visited a number of travel agencies and learned that Thailand is still a popular country for outbound tourism. "After the release, there have been a lot of tourists going to Thailand. We send tours almost every day. Our tour guide is from Chengdu to the end of the trip, and they are strictly according to the itinerary, and will not go to strange places. At present, there are no cases of withdrawal from the tour of tourists who have signed up for the tour. A staff member of a Chinese youth travel agency in Chengdu told reporters that from the current situation of the group, the May Day holiday will be a new peak period for tourism to Thailand.
Image from the official Weibo of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Mr. Xiong, a veteran travel expert with nearly seven years of experience in leading groups, told the New Yellow River reporter that after the epidemic was released, Thailand was one of the first pilot countries to resume outbound group travel for Chinese citizens. "Next month is Thailand's 'Songkran' festival, and there will be more travel orders." Mr. Xiong suggested that for first-time visitors to Thailand, they can choose a more qualified group tour, which is safer than independent travel. "If you encounter a travel dispute during your stay in Thailand, you can call the Thai tourist police number 1155 to call the police, which is very convenient."
"When we heard the rumors of the Thai male model restaurant 'Kawaizi', we had already booked the hotel and the flight. There are also safety concerns when you set out. At the airport, we met other independent Chinese tourists, so we set up a group, where everyone would report safety every day. We have been in Thailand for 5 days and have had a great time and security concerns have now been dispelled. "Mr. Li, a tourist from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, told the New Yellow River reporter that there are many tourists from all over the world, including China, and everyone goes to popular attractions to play, and it is also safe." Just don't go to remote places at night, any country has relatively safe and relatively dangerous places. ”
Image from the official Weibo of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
The relevant person in charge of Ctrip told the New Yellow River reporter that Thailand is still a popular outbound travel country, and group orders have not been affected too much. According to the data provided, Thailand and Bangkok are still the top 1 destinations in the most searched outbound countries and cities on Ctrip's platform in recent days. According to Ctrip's data, since March 1 to March 21, the top 10 provinces in the overall number of travel bookings to Thailand from the mainland are: Shanghai, Guangdong, Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Fujian, Shandong, Yunnan and Hunan. Since the beginning of this year, the popularity of travel searches in Chiang Mai on Ctrip's platform has increased by more than 9 times year-on-year, and the number of hotel bookings has increased by more than 10 times. As of March 1, Bangkok and Phuket ranked among the top five destinations for mainland outbound air ticket bookings during this year's May Day holiday. The top 10 cities with the number of outbound hotel bookings during the May Day holiday include Hong Kong, Phuket, Bangkok, Macau, Singapore, Tokyo, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bali, of which 5 cities are located in Thailand.
New Yellow River Reporter: Sun Min Zhao Guikai Editor: Sun Feifei