Global online travel agency Trip.com has suddenly canceled a recently signed partnership with Cambodia’s National Tourism Authority following a wave of user privacy concerns, primarily from customers in China and Thailand. The decision underscores growing public anxiety over data security and scam operations associated with Southeast Asia.

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The cooperation agreement, signed on December 1 to promote Cambodian tourism, quickly triggered a strong backlash on Chinese social media. Users expressed fears that their personal information could be exposed to or misused by scam networks reportedly operating in parts of Cambodia. The concern led to a visible trend of account deletions on Ctrip, Trip.com’s parent platform, with one long-time user commenting, “I cancelled my Ctrip account last night after using the platform for eight years.” Past data breaches, including a significant leak in 2014, appear to have amplified current user distrust.

The apprehension spread to Thailand, where local media reported that users were uninstalling the Trip.com app. Facing mounting pressure, Trip.com moved swiftly to scrap the cooperative initiative.

https://t.co/jxAAfGLa1G has cancelled its cooperation agreement with Cambodia's National Tourism Authority following privacy concerns raised by users in China and Thailand feared personal information could be exposed to regional scam operations, #Cambodia #Scammercountry pic.twitter.com/lMwK6IYOf6

— Guía turístico (@BangkokTourz) December 17, 2025

In a public statement, the company clarified that the agreement was strictly for tourism promotion and did not involve sharing or selling personal user data. It emphasized its commitment to robust privacy and data protection policies, noting that it maintains similar tourism partnerships with other countries, all designed to boost travel without compromising customer security.

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The incident occurs against a backdrop of international scrutiny over scam hubs in Cambodia. Several countries, including South Korea, have issued travel advisories or restrictions for citizens visiting specific Cambodian areas—such as Bokor Mountain, Bravet Town, and Poipet City—known to be linked to fraudulent operations that also impact neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.

-Thailand News (TN)