On July 28th, the @ThailandNationalTourismOffice issued a statement regarding recent matters of public concern.
The National Tourism Authority of Thailand pays great attention to the public concerns caused by recent events, and fully understands the impact this incident has had on all parties involved, including fans from China and Thailand, event organizers, and relevant units. We express our deep regret over this situation, and believe that it is not something any party would wish for.
To prevent such situations from happening again, the National Tourism Authority of Thailand will further strengthen communication and coordination with relevant partners and event organizers. It will promote continuous improvement in event organization, on-site management, and measures to ensure the services provided to participants. The authority will also enhance mechanisms for event information dissemination and on-site communication, continuously improving risk prevention and emergency response capabilities. By doing so, it will strive to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring again.
The National Tourism Authority of Thailand also expresses its gratitude to the relevant units for their active cooperation. Together, they work to improve the organization and service guarantees for activities, and continuously enhance the overall experience of international tourists participating in various events. This aims to create a safer, more orderly, and friendlier tourism environment for every tourist who visits Thailand.
Finally, the National Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to express its deep apologies for the inconvenience caused by this incident. We sincerely thank all our tourist friends for their understanding, trust, and support towards Thailand over the years. We cherish every visit from tourists, as well as every friendship that crosses national boundaries. We look forward to meeting with everyone again in Thailand in the future, to create even more wonderful travel memories together!
According to @LitchiNews, on July 25th, at the GMMTV book fair event in Sanyo Mall in Bangkok, Thailand, a Chinese female fan was violently treated by the on-site staff.
According to statements made by the parties involved on social media platforms and reports from related netizens, the girl arrived at the scene around 6 a.m. that day. She stood in line using an umbrella and with the assistance of a friend. Just as the line was about to start, a Thai fan nearby reported her for 'jumping the line' to the staff. The girl claimed to have valid line standing credentials and photos proving her position, but the staff did not verify these claims before asking her to leave and confiscating her belongings.
According to the online video footage and statements of the involved parties, several GMM staff members forcibly removed the girl. They engaged in actions such as snatching her phones, pressing her neck, pulling her hair, and dragging her in a wrestling manner. The girl’s clothing was torn loose, and her bracelet broke. Throughout the incident, multiple people surrounded her. The party involved said they went to the local police station to provide statements and planned to contact the Chinese embassy in Thailand for help.
On July 26th, the Thai entertainment company GMMTV released a statement on Weibo, stating that it was initially believed that the staff member's handling of certain situations involved excessive force. The staff member was an external person hired by our company to carry out work, and not an official employee of our company.
The statement also stated that the company has no policies or practices that involve discrimination against individuals based on race or nationality.
The WeChat official account “Chinese Embassy in Thailand” announced on July 27 that regarding a Chinese citizen who was severely treated by security guards and taken away from the event at a book exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand on July 25, the Chinese embassy in Thailand has received reports from this citizen. The embassy also noticed a statement released by the event organizers, which acknowledged that “the force used was excessive for the circumstances.”
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand urges relevant parties to ascertain the truth as soon as possible and handle this matter properly. The embassy will provide necessary assistance to Chinese citizens within its scope of responsibility and safeguard their legal rights and interests.
