Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized clearly that Thailand remains a top favorite destination among Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, the Thai Minister of Tourism highlighted that tourist safety is the highest priority, launching efforts to crack down on scammers and guaranteeing 100% safe travel in Thailand.
On 14 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, spoke about the atmosphere during the high-level meeting between Thailand and China, coinciding with the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Thailand. A key highlight was when the Chinese leader emphasized the popularity of Thai tourism during the welcoming lineup.
“While standing in the welcoming lineup, after Premier Li Qiang had passed by, he turned back when informed that I am the Tourism Minister. Through an interpreter, he said that Thailand remains a top destination that Chinese people want to visit. He deliberately turned back to emphasize this point himself.”
During the leadership talks, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul raised tourism cooperation as a top priority, stressing to the Chinese leader that tourist safety is Thailand’s utmost concern. He expressed strong commitment to combating scams, deception, and human trafficking, with the Thai government seeking close cooperation and information exchange with Chinese authorities on an ongoing basis.
Regarding efforts to boost Chinese tourist arrivals, Mr. Surasak said he previously met with the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, agreeing to form a joint working group for information exchange. This is due to the strong travel ties between the two countries: Thais travel to China most frequently, and Chinese tourists come to Thailand the most.
Concerning the Chinese embassy’s travel warnings, the ambassador clarified that they are routine alerts issued 3–4 times previously, not a ban on Chinese visiting Thailand. Chinese media had amplified the message. The Thai side agrees that such warnings are appropriate to caution those not genuinely traveling, such as individuals with hidden agendas or those using Thailand as a transit point to third countries, to be wary of criminals. However, genuine tourists following their travel plans to relax in Thailand and return home can be confident that Thailand is safe.
Mr. Surasak emphasized that Premier Li Qiang’s personal visit to Thailand, combined with clear signals from Thai leaders during policy meetings, reflects strong confidence, close ties, and good cooperation between the two nations. This will surely help restore the confidence of Chinese tourists in visiting Thailand.