Casino diplomatic missteps spark collapse in Chinese tourism, hitting Pattaya tour operators and hotels
City becomes collateral damage after Thai government ignores repeated warnings from Beijing. (Photo by Jetsada Homklin)
PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya, once a top destination for Chinese tourists, is facing economic impact as Thailand’s controversial push to legalize casino-linked entertainment complexes draws harsh warnings from Beijing. According to Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, China’s President Xi Jinping personally and repeatedly cautioned Thai leadership against legalizing casinos, warning that it could severely damage bilateral tourism and investment ties — a warning Thailand ignored.
Now, the consequences are hitting beachside cities like Pattaya hardest. Once bustling with Chinese group tours, retail shoppers, and hotel bookings, Pattaya has seen a dramatic decline in visitors from its largest international market. Anutin claims over 90% of Chinese tourists have disappeared, leaving tour operators, hotel owners, street vendors, and service workers struggling to survive.
Local business owners describe the current season as the worst in recent memory, not just due to global trends but because of diplomatic missteps. Many point to the ongoing casino debate as a turning point. Even though the Thai House of Representatives voted this week to withdraw the Entertainment Complex Bill from its agenda, critics like Anutin argue that the damage has already been done — and warn it will persist unless the government makes a clear and final break from the casino initiative.
Pattaya, long reliant on Chinese tourism to fuel its hospitality and retail economy, is now a cautionary tale in the high-stakes gamble of policymaking. The city’s rapid transformation into a casualty of geopolitical tension underscores how quickly economic confidence can erode when key partners like China feel disregarded.
Without a full policy reversal and diplomatic mending, Pattaya may continue to suffer the consequences of being caught in the crossfire — collateral damage in Thailand’s controversial flirtation with legalized gambling.
Anutin blames casino push by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai-led government for collapse in Thailand’s Chinese tourism market.