Israeli embassy addresses Thai opposition to misconduct among Israeli tourists

The Israeli Embassy in Thailand is addressing growing criticism over the conduct of Israeli tourists in the country after hundreds of people protested outside the embassy and a new poll found widespread concerns among Thai citizens about alleged Israeli misconduct.

The protests, held Thursday, featured signs reading “Boycott Israel” and “Thailand is not for sale.”

The demonstrations followed a recent NIDA Poll in which 77% of respondents said they had heard about alleged misconduct by Israeli visitors, while 5.11% said they had personally experienced such misconduct. Although the poll focused on Israeli tourists, it was published under the title “Jewish people.”

The protesters called for stronger enforcement of Thai laws against Israeli tourists who violate local laws and customs. The NIDA Poll Center conducted the survey among 1,210 eligible Thai voters aged 18 or older in Bangkok and five provinces from Sept. 8-10. The poll was published over the weekend.

Some 71.22% of respondents associated Israeli visitors with disrespect for Thai law, while 46.39% said Israeli tourists are rude and disrespectful toward Thai people. Another 45.9% cited a lack of respect for Thai culture among Israeli tourists. In addition, 31.44% of respondents claimed that Thai citizens were being used as nominees to formally hold land on behalf of foreign nationals.

A large majority, 77.49%, said they favor strict enforcement of Thai laws against Israeli tourists who violate them. Another 45% supported shortening the permitted length of stay for Israeli nationals, while 38.9% said the Israeli Embassy should address the growing issue of misconduct among Israeli tourists.

The protests and criticism reflected in the poll prompted the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok to respond. Israeli Deputy Ambassador Rami Teplitsky spoke about the concerns in Thai in a video the embassy released.

Teplitsky emphasized the strong historical and friendly relations between Thailand and Israel and said the embassy was actively collaborating with Thai authorities to address the problem. He also said the embassy had released a code of conduct for Israeli tourists and called on them to respect Thai laws and culture.

Thailand has long been a popular destination for Israelis traveling to Asia. More than 277,000 Israelis visited Thailand between January and August 2026, according to figures from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports cited by the Associated Press. That was a 7% increase from the same period in 2025.

Tourism is a major source of income for Thailand. Last year, the country’s tourism sector generated $48 billion in revenue, including $1.2 billion from Israeli tourists.

The two countries also maintain close ties beyond tourism. In March 2025, Israel sent a search-and-rescue team to Thailand after a deadly earthquake struck the country. Thousands of Thai nationals work in Israel, particularly in agriculture.

Several Thai citizens were murdered or kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the Oct. 7, 2023, atrocities. In October 2025, Hamas released the bodies of murdered Thai hostage Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Israeli national Ronen Engel.