Wang Xing was living in fear. His head had been shaved. He couldn’t sleep and was in a strange place where his captors were forcing him to type – the first phase of training for an unwanted role.

Thailand sought to dampen safety concerns among potential Chinese tourists on Friday as fears mounted over reported kidnappings on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Thai tour operators say booking cancellations from Chinese visitors surged following news of an actor who was rescued from a scam centre.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the country remains safe for tourists amid reports of a high-profile trafficking of a Chinese actor triggering mass group cancellations ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

Questions about the safety of Chinese tourists were triggered earlier this month after actor Wang Xing went missing on the Thai-Myanmar border and authorities said he may have bee