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.

Thailand is stepping up security for tourists to restore the confidence of Chinese visitors, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Friday after an alleged kidnapping of a Chinese actor sparked concerns about the safety of travellers.

The brief abduction of a Chinese actor who was trafficked into Myanmar to work in a scam camp has rattled travelers from a country that Thailand relies on for tourism.

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.