Thailand: Disrespectful Israeli tourists cause chaos in Pai

The influx of unruly Israeli tourists is causing concern among the residents of the town of Pai in northern Thailand.

The growing number of Israeli tourists in the town of Pai, Mae Hong Son, is worrying locals, especially in light of a series of incidents over the past two weeks.

During an incident on February 2, four Israelis broke into the emergency room of Pai Hospital and vandalized it.

Following their actions, the four men were fined 3,000 baht (84 euros) each, had their tourist visas revoked, and were subsequently expelled to Israel.

A female doctor stated that the incident was not the first time the hospital had been confronted with Israeli visitors who were rude, aggressive and broke the law.

She stated in a message shared on social media that Pai district had become a hub for Israeli tourists.

“These tourists regularly smoke in the hospital, steal items and have damaged the doors of our emergency room,” the doctor wrote on February 4.

“They have set up unauthorized driving schools despite having no license, which has led to frequent accidents.”

When they come for treatment, they often refuse basic medical procedures such as blood tests and wound care, making it extremely difficult for our staff to help them.

She added that she did not feel safe working at the hospital and might end up resigning.

See: Thailand: Tourists Sow Chaos in Pai and Terrorize Residents

After several unpleasant incidents involving groups of drunk and stoned people, who caused chaos in public places in the small town, some establishments in Pai display signs banning access to Israeli tourists.

More recently, two Israelis were arrested for working without a permit as singers at a local restaurant, which has heightened concerns among local residents about foreign tourists illegally occupying jobs in this popular tourist destination.

Lieutenant Colonel Wichai Panna, immigration police inspector, said the two Israeli tourists are currently in custody awaiting a deportation order from the Immigration Bureau.

They will be transferred to Bangkok to be expelled once the order is signed, he said.

Pai has become a magnet for Israeli tourists, with some reports suggesting that there could be up to 30,000 Israelis living in the area, far more than the 21,000 local residents of the city.

The influx of numerous Israelis into the town, considered an invasion by locals, has led to it being nicknamed 'Pai Lee Stein'.

A new synagogue built in the Pai district has also raised concerns, with several residents claiming it often serves as a gathering place for parties that attract large crowds.

Celebration at the Pai synagogue. Photo: Matichon

Following these complaints, police officers were sent to inspect the synagogue, located just behind the Pai police station, on February 11.

They found no evidence of illegal activities or significant gatherings on site.

Although the search revealed no evidence of wrongdoing, Nanthiwat Samart, former deputy director of the National Intelligence Agency, spoke out on his Facebook account to urge the government to pay attention to the concerns of local residents.

In his message, he emphasized that the growing number of Israeli tourists "is not the problem, but the concerns of local residents are".

He urged the Ministry of Interior and security agencies to investigate the complaints and take appropriate action to address the concerns of local residents if necessary.

Israel's ambassador to Thailand regrets these behaviors

Orna Sagiv, Israel's ambassador to Thailand. Photo: Bangkok Post

In light of these concerns, on February 11, Orna Sagiv, Israel's ambassador to Thailand, expressed regret over the behavior of some Israeli tourists.

She added that she would personally go to Pai to meet with officials, local business leaders and members of the local Israeli community.

She stated that all tourists must respect the law.

« I hope this will not have a negative impact on other Israelis in Thailand », she said.

According to the ambassador, more than 280,000 Israelis visited Thailand last year.

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Source : Bangkok Post