Tourist turmoil: Thailand grapples with 10,000 unexpected Israeli guests amid conflict aftermath

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Thailand is currently hosting approximately 10,000 Israeli tourists, a situation that arose due to the recent Israel-Gaza conflict. The country’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is monitoring the effects of this situation on its tourism sector.

 

Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Tourism and Sports Minister stated that while numerous airlines have suspended flights between Thailand and Israel, El Al Airlines, Israel’s national airline, has maintained its regular flight schedule. Additionally, all airlines have provided options for flight cancellations and delays to support travellers affected by the ongoing conflict.

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism Department have been directed by the ministry to track the situation closely and ensure the welfare of any tourists stranded in the country.

 

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, noted that outbound flights to Israel are nearly fully booked, indicating a potential shortage due to Israelis’ concerns for their families.

 

“El Al will continue to operate 11 flights per week between Israel and Thailand, including 8-9 flights to Bangkok and 2-3 flights to Phuket.”

 

 by Jimmy Donovan

Photo: by Eyal Zarrad, on Flickr.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-10

 

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[JBChiangRai]

They wouldn’t have this problem if they obeyed international law.

[rbkk]

Thailand should stop accepting El Al commercial flights to/from Israel until they allow Thai humanitarian repatriation flights into their airspace/airports.

[spidermike007]

1 minute ago, rbkk said:

Thailand should stop accepting El Al commercial flights to/from Israel until they allow Thai humanitarian repatriation flights into their airspace/airports.

Are they expressly forbidding those flights? Or is it an air force coordination issue? 

[LudwigK]

Is Thailand going to be the new refugee country? 

After Russia and ucraine now Israel? What country is the next? 

[RandolphGB]

11 minutes ago, rbkk said:

Thailand should stop accepting El Al commercial flights to/from Israel until they allow Thai humanitarian repatriation flights into their airspace/airports.

All good until a foreign military aircraft is shot down.

 

 

 

[rbkk]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Are they expressly forbidding those flights? Or is it an air force coordination issue? 

I read that Israel have closed their airspace; but not it seems to El Al Airlines.

[Jiggo]

TAT Happy with another war then, good for there numbers

[Cabradelmar]

What about the 1000s of Thais desperate to leave Israel? Israeli thinking about themselves first, I guess ???? Nothing better than war to drive tourism. TAT probably thinking about visa free entry for Hamas and Palestinians. Thailand is turning into a refugee camp between the Russians, Ukrainian and Israeli... none of this is going to end well. 

[rbkk]

1 minute ago, RandolphGB said:

All good until a foreign military aircraft is shot down.

I don't see El Al Airlines shot down. Are you saying that foreign military aircraft  are at a greater risk than the national airline of Israel?

[Frankie baby]

Are Israelis coming are going. The title claims they are coming & then further down states that all out bound flights to Israel are just about full in which case the numbers of Israelis in the country should be more are less the same?

[Airwolf]

Majority of Israeli tourists/backpackers I met on my travels were very rude and unfriendly, was pretty much the consensus with other international backpackers. The women are pretty hot though. 

[Sharp]

Oh dear 

[Purdey]

I guess the Russians here can be friendly with Ukrainian tourists. The Israeli tourists can get on with - I was going to say Palestinian tourists but I guess there aren't many. Thailand, a non-aligned country, could benefit from the input of foreign money. 

[Enzian]

13 minutes ago, LudwigK said:

Is Thailand going to be the new refugee country? 

After Russia and ucraine now Israel? What country is the next? 

Taiwan.

[Muhendis]

13 minutes ago, rbkk said:

I read that Israel have closed their airspace; but not it seems to El Al Airlines.

Perhaps they don't care about their El Al planes being hit by rockets from wherever.

[Matthew Peter]

Wonder how all these Israeli newcomers are gonna get along with all the Russkies I've been seeing at Hua Hin Immigration. The latter are coming in on Education visas, study English (555 Putin). So what're these newbies gonna do?

[rbkk]

4 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Thailand, a non-aligned country, could benefit from the input of foreign money. 

Leaving the Thai's, murdered  on foreign soil, to rot?

[Enzian]

8 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

The women are pretty hot though. 

After what just happened it is simply incredible that someone would say this. Peace be to your soul.

[garzhe]

19 minutes ago, LudwigK said:

Is Thailand going to be the new refugee country? 

After Russia and ucraine now Israel? What country is the next? 

Yep, better open up some more language schools quickly.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

17 minutes ago, Jiggo said:

TAT Happy with another war then, good for there numbers

Yes, its sad but seemingly true!

[LALes]

How come when 120,000 Chinese enter Thailand its seen as the second coming but 10,000 Israelis show up and they are "grappling" to deal with the "problem"?

[captpkapoor]

12 minutes ago, Frankie baby said:

Are Israelis coming are going. The title claims they are coming & then further down states that all out bound flights to Israel are just about full in which case the numbers of Israelis in the country should be more are less the same?

Correct. Puzzled me too

[rbkk]

5 minutes ago, Muhendis said:

Perhaps they don't care about their El Al planes being hit by rockets from wherever.

I perceive their actions to be nationalistic, especially to the exclusion and detriment of other nations.

[wensiensheng]

15 minutes ago, Airwolf said:

Majority of Israeli tourists/backpackers I met on my travels were very rude and unfriendly, was pretty much the consensus with other international backpackers. The women are pretty hot though. 

I think the OP concerns the conflict in Israel and the impact that it has on Israeli tourists who happen to be in Thailand.

 

OTOH, perhaps it is about the attitude of Israeli backpackers and the physical attributes of those that are female. In which case that bit went right over my head.

[retarius]

Why not ship them to the US? The US has to stick its awe into everything in the world and the arms that Hamas are using come from the USA, so why not return the favour and send the Israelis to the US where I'm sure, they will receive a very warm welcome. 

[Morch]

18 minutes ago, Frankie baby said:

Are Israelis coming are going. The title claims they are coming & then further down states that all out bound flights to Israel are just about full in which case the numbers of Israelis in the country should be more are less the same?

 

The Hamas attack was on the last day of Israeli (well, Jewish) holiday season. High season for traveling out of the country was the last 2-3 weeks. The flights going back to Israel are tourists ending their vacations, the ones coming in are trying to avoid the current mess in country. I'd venture the incoming lot is a bit more upscale than the latter.

[KannikaP]

17 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Thailand, a non-aligned country, could benefit from the input of foreign money. 

But will they get taxed on it?

[wensiensheng]

20 minutes ago, Frankie baby said:

Are Israelis coming are going. The title claims they are coming & then further down states that all out bound flights to Israel are just about full in which case the numbers of Israelis in the country should be more are less the same?

I read it that Thailand is “currently hosting” 10k Israel tourists and they are experiencing difficulties returning home because all flights are cancelled, except for those of El Al. Consequently the latter are choc o bloc and Thailand has the problem of looking after those tourists who can’t get home on their expected date.

[KannikaP]

8 minutes ago, captpkapoor said:

Correct. Puzzled me too

Yes me too, with two 'ares' in the first sentence. Should have been 'OR' going.