Thai politician criticised over claim that China has barred tourists after cannabis law
- An opposition politician said many Chinese tour operators have had to scrap trips to Thailand
- China’s embassy in Bangkok said Beijing had not issued any directives requiring Chinese travellers to cancel their trips to Thailand
Beijing has rejected a Thai politician’s claim that Chinese citizens had been barred from visiting the Southeast Asian country after it recently legalised cannabis.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, China’s embassy in Bangkok said “the government has not resumed overseas group tours that were banned since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
It added Beijing had not issued any directives requiring Chinese travellers to cancel their trips to Thailand.
The embassy’s response came after some local media outlets and the opposition Pheu Thai Party leader Chaturon Chaisang said many Chinese tour operators had to scrap trips to Thailand following the latest travel clampdown.
Chaturon said on Facebook last week that cannabis decriminalisation could turn into a negative soft power and affect foreigners’ view of Thai culture.
He also said China had cancelled a schedule to allow tourists to visit Thailand.
Thai netizens criticised Chaturon for sowing division between the two countries and appreciated the embassy’s clarification.