Israeli family says Koh Samui park refused entry

An Israeli family visiting Koh Samui says it was refused entry to Samui Exotic Park in Mae Nam because of its nationality, before a confrontation with a man representing the attraction.

Videos shared online on 14 August show the family, who were accompanied by two young daughters, challenging staff at the park entrance. Later posts on the park's official Instagram Story appeared to endorse the exclusion of Israeli visitors.

Family records confrontation

Footage filmed by the mother, and widely circulated online, begins with her speaking to staff behind a counter.

"Because we're from Israel? What have we done to you? We haven't done anything," she says in the recording.

Picture courtesy of Khoasod

The footage then cuts to a man described as representing the zoo telling the family to leave. "Okay, bye. Bye-bye," he says.

When the woman asks for his name, the man responds with profanity. As she repeats the question, he approaches the group and says: "Move off my place."

The man then appears to attempt to headbutt the woman's husband. She replies, "Okay, okay, we're leaving. We're leaving," before he throws a small white sign in her direction while she continues recording.

Park account posts anti-Israeli imagery

Samui Exotic Park also posted silent CCTV footage of the confrontation, filmed from behind the counter. The wider-angle video appears to show the family, including the two girls, leaving the entrance area after the dispute.

Further Instagram Stories on the park's official account appeared to reinforce its position. One clip showed an Israeli flag carrying a red no-entry symbol beside a shooting target marked with holes.

As the camera moved from the sign to a nearby Free Palestine flag, the person filming could be heard whistling.

Those later posts do not independently confirm the family's account of events before recording began. However, they appeared to show that the attraction's official social-media account supported refusing Israeli visitors after the confrontation.

The park had previously drawn online criticism for displaying Palestinian flags and a "Free Palestine" sign. At that time, Samui Exotic Park said it welcomed visitors of all nationalities, while expecting guests to respect its rules.

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15 August 2026