MKS sports Thailand, on February 05, 2025.?Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-03-30/880c0ae9-2e1d-43a8-9721-f306dc714f42.jpeg" />

Foreign tourists visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 5, 2025. Photo: VCG

Multiple Chinese travel platforms are offering cancellation and refund options for hotel bookings and airline tickets for travelers heading to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos following the deadly earthquake in Myanmar. 

Trip.com Group's SOS platform has been activated to collect requests from affected users. A representative from the travel company told the Global Times on Sunday that users requiring urgent assistance can access the SOS page on Trip.com Group, where dedicated service personnel will respond promptly.

For hotel bookings made before March 28, 2025, for locations in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Ruili in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, with stays between March 28 and April 4, the platform will provide cancellation guarantees for hotel bookings in these places and offer self-service refund and change options for airline tickets that meet the full refund policy of airlines.

Regarding flights, Trip.com Group will closely monitor airline policies and provide timely updates. Passengers eligible for full refunds under airline policies can use the app for self-service cancellations or free rebooking, according to the staff member. 

China's other travel platforms, including Tongcheng Travel, Fliggy and Qunar, have also announced similar guarantee plans for hotel bookings and airline tickets.

Local media the Bangkok Post reported that the deadly Myanmar earthquake is set to hurt foreign tourist arrivals to Thailand in the coming weeks, the latest blow to an industry already reeling from dwindling Chinese visitors worried about travel safety.  

International tourist arrivals are expected to drop by 10 to 15 percent, or more, in the next two weeks as Friday's earthquake affected Thai tourist hot spots, spooking prospective travelers, the Bangkok Post reported on Sunday citing the Thai Hotels Association.

About 10 percent of foreign tourists checked out early after the quake, said Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the association, citing an initial survey among the group's members. Some tourists, however, were forced to return to their hotels, he said.

Adith Chairattananon, Secretary-General of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, expressed his concerns that tourists who are thinking of traveling to Thailand may reconsider. "The impact could surface in the next two weeks," Adith said, Bangkok reported.

The Global Times noticed that on Chinese social media platforms, some netizens have expressed concerns about traveling to Thailand, seeking opinions from others on whether they should cancel their trips.

The Songkran festival, the traditional Thai New Year, will be celebrated next month, and I had planned to go with a friend. However, considering safety concerns, I'm still undecided whether to cancel the trip, a tourist surnamed Jiang told the Global Times on Sunday.

"I checked that the epicenter is in central Myanmar, far from Chiang Mai. The Thai Tourism Authority's update says major tourist areas are unaffected. I'll wait for another two weeks to monitor the aftershocks and the recovery of local infrastructure," said Jiang.

Regarding tourists' concerns, the Thai authorities have taken some responding measures. The Thailand Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Sunday that Songkran celebrations nationwide will proceed as planned, assuring tourists that travel, transport and hotels remain unaffected by the quake, the National Thailand reported.

Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, Deputy Governor for International Marketing of the TAT, who is attending a Thailand tourism promotion conference in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Friday stated that no reports have been received regarding Chinese tourists in Thailand affected by the Myanmar earthquake, as reported by local media Sichuan Guancha. 

She emphasized that tourists in Thailand who encounter danger can immediately call the tourism police hotline on 1155, or the TAT's hotline on 1672, both of which provide services in Chinese. 

Additionally, tourists can download the "Thailand Tourism Police" app to report any issues during their stay. The Thai authorities will respond promptly to ensure the safety of tourists.

To ensure the safety of tourists, the TAT stated that it would seek cooperation from the Engineering Institute of Thailand and the Public Works Department to inspect high-rise hotels, according to the National Thailand.

Thailand Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT) has set up emergency hotlines for those seeking building inspections following the earthquake, said the Bangkok Post. The DPT advised hotel, condo and shopping mall operators to contact registered building inspectors to assess the structural integrity of their outlets and contact the department via the emergency hotlines for further suggestions.

Thailand welcomed 6.73 million Chinese tourists in 2024, a 91.7 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Xinhua News Agency.