Thailand, the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, has warned that foreign tourists who cause trouble or violate local laws and customs could have their visas revoked as authorities move to protect the country’s tourism image.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said reports of inappropriate behavior by some groups of foreign tourists had affected the atmosphere, safety and image of local tourism areas, The Nation Thailand reported.
He said the government was prepared to coordinate with relevant agencies to take immediate action, including “revoking the visas” of tourists who cause trouble.
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Tourists wait for their boats in Phuket, Thailand. Photo by Reuters |
Surasak stressed that Thailand welcomes visitors from around the world, but tourists are expected to respect Thai laws and culture while in the country.
He said Thailand would not allow visitors of any nationality to treat the country as a “playground” or use tourist areas for symbolic expressions related to conflicts elsewhere.
The minister said taking action against problematic tourists before incidents escalate would help maintain a positive tourism environment while reassuring local businesses and other visitors who come to Thailand for holidays.
Recently, the owner of a zoo on Koh Samui Island filed a police complaint against a group of Israeli tourists, alleging they harassed her and threatened to harm her family and burn down her home and zoo, Khaosod English newspaper reported.
The dispute began after the tourists allegedly repeatedly violated the zoo’s rules, including refusing to pay admission fees, requesting refunds and behaving in ways she considered dangerous to the animals.
Thailand welcomed 19.7 million international visitors between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15, down 3.19% from a year earlier.