Bangkok
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, ordered authorities to tighten oversight and strictly enforce laws against inappropriate tourist behaviour, particularly incidents involving public indecency such as foreigners engaging in sexual acts, warning that such actions damage the country’s reputation and cultural values.
Speaking through Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksmisangchan, the Prime Minister, who also serves as Interior Minister, directed relevant agencies to crack down on tourists who disturb the public or violate Thai laws, with no exceptions. “Tourists exhibiting inappropriate behaviour or causing disturbance to the public and other tourists must be prosecuted strictly according to the law… especially those engaging in behaviour that violates Thailand’s fine cultural values and those related to drug use,” the statement said.
The directive follows a series of high-profile incidents that have gone viral on social media and sparked public outrage.
On Sunday, May 3rd, a Spanish man (Ruben, 41) and a Peruvian woman (Cynthia, 43) were filmed engaging in a sexual act (reported as oral sex) aboard a moving tuk-tuk in Patong, Phuket. Police arrested the pair on May 4th after the video circulated widely. They confessed, were charged with public indecency, fined, deported immediately, and blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.
In another viral recent incident in Phuket two foreign tourists dined and dashed, throwing snot at the vendor and showing them the middle finger when confronted over the bill.
In Pattaya, residents recently complained about multiple couples engaging in public sex in the water, while other videos showed reckless behaviour such as a tourist attempting a backflip from a moving songthaew and injuring himself.
In another viral incident a foreign tourist attacked several Thais on Pattaya Beach after they politely asked him to stop smoking cannabis.
And in the biggest viral story of the week a foreign man who claimed to be Moroccan refused to pay a bar bill in Pattaya, assaulted and insulted law enforcement, exposed himself, and tried to flee and resist arrest.
Thai media outlets reported that these events have prompted the government to focus on law enforcement at tourist hotspots to safeguard the industry’s image and attract “quality tourists.” Authorities will also increase checks on entertainment venues to maintain public order.
Thailand expects around 33.5 million foreign visitors in 2026, slightly up from 2025, though recent figures show a 7% drop in April arrivals, partly attributed to global factors like the Middle East situation. The government has been shifting focus toward higher-value tourism while reviewing visa policies and tightening entry screening.
The Prime Minister’s Office stressed that firm action is needed to build confidence among responsible international visitors and preserve Thailand’s appeal as a premier destination.
