A tourist’s outburst at a café on the Thai party island of Koh Phangan has ignited debate about cultural clashes between locals and foreign visitors.
In a video originally shared on Facebook, the Israeli holidaymaker allegedly refuses to remove her shoes before entering the restaurant, defying a deeply rooted Thai custom.
A voice can be heard saying ‘go back to your country, you are not welcome here’.
The clip then shows the woman raising her hands in frustration before telling someone off-camera: ‘My money builds your country.’
The incident, filmed on the Full Moon Party island on May 5, has been described as deeply disrespectful across Thai social media. Some have called for the woman to be deported.
On Reddit, the footage has revived discussion about previous controversies involving tourists abroad.
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Many have cited it as an example of growing frustration with the behaviour of foreign visitors, both in Thailand and other popular holiday destinations.
‘Please remove this woman and blacklist her. This is offensive to all of us hardworking people and our ancestors,’ one user wrote.
Another added: ‘We welcome tourists with hospitality, but this superiority complex is not welcome.’
Others questioned why the woman would travel to Thailand if she didn’t want to respect their customs.
Cultural norms in Thailand
In Thai society, removing your shoes before entering someone’s home, temples and some restaurants is a long-standing tradition that signifies respect.
It’s considered good manners to the host, and the place you are visiting.
Critics of the video also noted that cultural differences are at play. In Thailand, the concept of kreng jai, where you don’t confront and are aware of other’s feelings, is fundamental to how society operates.
This incident has been seen as symbolic of heightened tensions between locals and guests.
Reddit is awash with previous examples of tourists behaving badly. Last month, footage captured a group of what is said to be Indian holidaymakers launching a tirade at workers in a Bangkok hotel.
The man leading the group appears to be furious over a booking deposit taken from his account.
The video shows him ranting angrily at staff, before becoming aggressive with the person filming when he tells him to stop.
Thailand’s tourism problem
Thailand has long been one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, but the country is pushing hard to promote Thai culture and draw visitors to lesser-known locations.
The government recently announced ambitious plans to attract 40 million tourists in 2025 – up considerably from the 35.54 million it welcomed last year – after the Covid-related drought.
Visitor numbers are now soaring, thanks to the relaxing of entry rules and visa measures.
But concerns have been raised about overcrowding, and whether mass-tourism can co-exist with respectful and sustainable travel.
Experts have warned that major destinations like Phuket and Pattaya are on the verge of overtourism. Tourist taxes similar to those on the Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos have been proposed.
The filming of The White Lotus at the Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui has already brought a surge of visitors to Thailand’s second-largest island, a beautiful place already struggling with water scarcity and waste disposal.
The challenges of mass tourism
The woman has since responded in a post on Instagram, saying her remarks were taken out of context.
She wrote: ‘Hello, I am the woman in the video. First, I want to clarify that my words were taken out of context. My intention was to say that Israeli tourism contributes to the Thai economy.
‘I was subjected to physical and verbal aggression stemming from general anger toward Israeli tourists in Thailand. The person who recorded the video was not a staff member but another customer.
‘I had permission to wear my shoes because I had foot pain. The filmer and her friend used violence to force me out of the cafe, even though I had already chosen to leave to avoid further confrontation.
‘The video was misleading and did not show the violence I experienced.’
Israeli media has been reporting on fears of reputational damage in Thailand due to tourists’ disruptive behaviour.
Residents in Pai, a town in a remote, mountainous province in northern Thailand, reported a surge of unruly Israeli visitors allegedly living and working illegally in the region in February.
Business owners have claimed Israeli tourists ate hundreds of baht worth of food at their restaurants, then refused to pay.
Tom Tomarito, a member of the local Tourist Police who has been working overtime dealing with complaints, said the problem ‘isn’t about race, religion or nationality — it’s about behaviour’.
He told the Times of Israel: ‘This issue isn’t exclusive to Israelis; if any group, regardless of where they come from, acts in this manner, it would be equally problematic.’
The claims forced Thailand’s Prime Minister to dismiss rumours of Israelis ‘taking over’ the area. Tour operators have pleaded for calm to prevent damage to the industry.
The Israeli Embassy in Thailand issued a statement on February 21, calling on Israeli tourists to respect local laws and customs.
The statement provided detailed guidelines for appropriate behaviour, including maintaining quiet in public spaces and respecting local customs.
The embassy said: ‘The Thai people respect and warmly welcome Israeli tourists. Let’s maintain this relationship.’
Thailand has been marred by overtourism from all nationalities as the government pushes visa-free schemes to boost revenue.
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