A movement to boycott travel to South Korea is reportedly gaining momentum among Thais. This appears to be a reaction to the controversy over entry bans and the subsequent rise in anti-Korean sentiment.
According to the Bangkok Post on the 20th, President of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn stated, “Korea was once among the top three travel destinations for Thai tourists, but those days are over due to the boycott movement.” He added, “It will take at least 1 to 2 years for Korea to regain the trust of Thai tourists.”
He further remarked, “As reports of Thais being denied entry to Korea continue to surface, they are turning to other countries to avoid entry restrictions.”
Indeed, last year, posts alleging unfair treatment and denial of entry to Korea became a hot topic on Thai social media platforms with the hashtag #BoycottKoreaTravel trending.
Some Thai media outlets reported negative and insulting comments from Korea regarding the passage of the same-sex marriage legalization bill by the Thai Senate on the 18th, suggesting a resurgence of anti-Korean sentiment.
The number of Thai tourists visiting Korea from January to April dropped by 21.1% compared to the same period last year, totaling 119,000 visitors. Before the COVID-19 situation, Thailand was the leading country in Southeast Asia for tourists visiting Korea, but it has now fallen to third place, trailing Vietnam and the Philippines.
The tourism industry attributed the decline in tourists visiting Korea specifically to Thailand, due to the entry ban controversy and the subsequent anti-Korean sentiment that arose last year.
Local media have begun reporting on racial discrimination issues in Korea, indicating signs of a resurgence of anti-Korean sentiment. Following the Thai Senate’s passage of the same-sex marriage legalization bill on the 18th, there are reports in local media regarding negative and insulting comments from Korea towards Thailand.
However, some analyses suggest that the increase in cases of Thais being denied entry is linked to the issue of illegal immigrants. It is reported that there are about 140,000 illegal Thai immigrants in Korea.
In March of last year, the Incheon Immigration Office apprehended 83 illegal immigrants at a concert venue in Incheon where famous Thai singer Arm Chutima was performing. This incident has prompted calls for stricter measures against illegal immigration.
