Thailand’s tourism goal in doubt as Chinese travellers opt for Japan

Thailand’s ambitious goal of attracting as many as 9 million tourists from China this year looks in doubt, after the kidnapping of a Chinese actor started driving mainland visitors to the safety of Japan and Singapore.

Flight cancellations to the country that brands itself as the “Land of Smiles” surged 94 per cent last month, according to Bloomberg Intelligence research, as more Chinese opted instead to take their families to the ski fields and hot springs of Japan during Lunar New Year.

Trips to Thailand in the first two weeks of February were still lagging behind last year’s levels, the note showed.