Phuket considers tourism impact as foreign visitors cause growing concern for locals.

[MalcolmB]

A British man from Glasgow has sparked up a big debate about foreign tourism on the island of Phuket. George Patterson, a 40-year-old Scottish national.
This incident, along with others involving out-of-control foreigners, particularly sparked alarm in Phuket. Overshadowed by a large number of Russian tourists and significant Russian grey capital investment, the holiday island has begun to question the impact of foreign tourism on locals.

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/04/07/crazed-foreigner-terrifies-locals-scottish-man-attacks-shop-owner-his-wife-and-children-in-phuket/

 

Thais are getting fed up.

Why do people behave like idiots in Thailand and why do people defend them? 
What can we do to turn this around? 
I call it out when I see it but I can’t do it alone.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

Another Malcy faring bash….

 

Also covered in the thread below…

 

As for why… some ‘people’ are just idiots…    all nationalities, foreign & Thai…

 

What can ‘we’ do ? (as in the general foreign community)…..  

 

Ans: Continue to behave politely & respectfully… that includes not drink-driving etc… 

 

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

Another Malcy faring bash….

 

Also covered in the thread below…

Perhaps you should read the article, it is about the impact about this is having on local Thai communities and their feeling towards this. 
Not just about the Scot but also the German dentist attacker, and others.

 

There is a much bigger picture than just one incident despite your denials. 
 

Have you actually ever been to Phuket? 

 

[stupidfarang]

Best to place these people who break the law in jail for a while, get the word out that if you make trouble/break the law then to jail you go for a few months. As to reducing the number of tourists to Thailand that will not happen as the country needs every $ they can get for the economy

[MalcolmB]

10 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

Best to place these people who break the law in jail for a while, get the word out that if you make trouble/break the law then to jail you go for a few months. As to reducing the number of tourists to Thailand that will not happen as the country needs every $ they can get for the economy

Could work, Singapore has stricter laws and people know they must behave there.

Maybe Thailand could bring back the cane.

[MalcolmB]

27 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Also covered in the thread below…

Yes I reported that before AN picked it up.

 

 

[Sir Dude]

Well, if you let in all the dodgy Russian draft-dodgers who have money... WTF do you expect? Then pile on top of that the Indians and their nonsense. You have to choose between lots of money and the resulting chaos and crime... or less money and some sort of sane situation you can manage. Have to choose as you can't have it both ways.

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

Well, if you let in all the dodgy Russian draft-dodgers who have money... WTF do you expect? Then pile on top of that the Indians and their nonsense. You have to choose between lots of money and the resulting chaos and crime... or less money and some sort of sane situation you can manage. Have to choose as you can't have it both ways.

if i was Russian, i would also be a draft dodger, whats wrong with leaving a country that wants to force you to fight a bad war?    i hold NOTHING against them, only when they act bad
the thing is few countries are letting them in .

The problem is same as everywhere people vacation
They think they are no longer at home so can do as they wish, add in alcohol ... its a problem an its not just Thailand 

Out of 35++ million tourist/year , there will always be a few bad apple's and sensational news gets more views.  🙂

[nick supreme]

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

A British man from Glasgow has sparked up a big debate about foreign tourism on the island of Phuket. George Patterson, a 40-year-old Scottish national.
This incident, along with others involving out-of-control foreigners, particularly sparked alarm in Phuket. Overshadowed by a large number of Russian tourists and significant Russian grey capital investment, the holiday island has begun to question the impact of foreign tourism on locals.

 

https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/04/07/crazed-foreigner-terrifies-locals-scottish-man-attacks-shop-owner-his-wife-and-children-in-phuket/

 

Thais are getting fed up.

Why do people behave like idiots in Thailand and why do people defend them? 
What can we do to turn this around? 
I call it out when I see it but I can’t do it alone.

 

 

The British tourists still have the mind set that UK is a colonial power.   It's a form of white supremacy. 

[connda]

Thailand as a LOTRs meme

 

We loves the nice touristies don't we my precioussss...touristies brings the monies to nice Thaisssssss. Nice tourities ❤️

THEY BAD TOURISTIES.  BAD BAD BAD.  GET OUT!!!!  🔥

[NativeBob]

24 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

The British tourists still have the mind set that UK is a colonial power.   It's a form of white supremacy. 

Rather "orange supremacy" because Scots often are redheads. 

(except James Bond, of course) 

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Thais are getting fed up.

Why do people behave like idiots in Thailand and why do people defend them? 
What can we do to turn this around? 

 

I mainly blame the pubic sex trade and bar scene which overlaps with sex trade. I'm sure if you removed that things would change rapidly.

 

Either way, they just need to drop the hammer on people. Doing abusive behavior on a tourist visa is an automatic 6 months in jail and see how that goes.

 

Speaking of this I saw a video pop up on YouTube. It's unbearable cringe from what appears to be a serial sex pest from Korea. Thailand has these entertaining venues and Thai women indulge them so it's a recipe for dodgy tourists and bad behavior.

 

Not saying they should shut any of this down but that's the reason if you ask me.

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I mainly blame the pubic sex trade and bar scene which overlaps with sex trade. I'm sure if you removed that things would change rapidly.

That is part of it.

But not all of it.

I don’t think the drama in Pai with the Israelis was anything to do with the sex trade.

This Scot wasnt in Patong rampaging. 
The Swiss guy kicking the doctor on the beach.

The Swiss guy with the dogs.

The Swiss supermarket basher. 
 

Anyway it is getting to the point where Thais are openly talking about it in the news and one on social media.

If we don’t pull our heads in they will deal with us.

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

I don’t think the drama in Pai with the Israelis was anything to do with the sex trade.

This Scot wasnt in Patong rampaging. 
The Swiss guy kicking the doctor on the beach.

The Swiss guy with the dogs.

The Swiss supermarket basher. 
 

Anyway it is getting to the point where Thais are openly talking about it in the news and one on social media.

If we don’t pull our heads in they will deal with us.

 

The young Israeli men are a global well documented issue.

 

Lots of other factors though too, cheap cost of living, easy access to women, crazy driving gives the impression  it's a free for all. Open drinking in the streets, roaming dogs etc... 

 

Thailand feels very free which is why people like it but that's a double edged sword. Again, they need to crush these offenders instead of changing their culture. Everyone would feel so much better if they knew these incidents were dealt with swiftly and harshly.

 

 

 

 

[hotsun]

Thais will destroy their country far before they have a chance to revolt against foreigners. The real culprits are their politicians but theyll never figure it out

[MalcolmB]

28 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

The young Israeli men are a global well documented issue.

 

Lots of other factors though too, cheap cost of living, easy access to women, crazy driving gives the impression  it's a free for all. Open drinking in the streets, roaming dogs etc... 

 

Thailand feels very free which is why people like it but that's a double edged sword. Again, they need to crush these offenders instead of changing their culture. Everyone would feel so much better if they knew these incidents were dealt with swiftly and harshly.

 

Interesting comments in that link.

I thought the Thais clashed with the Israelis so much because of their opposite manners and nature

But it looks like Israelis are not popular anywhere. Makes me think about what the Palestinians must have to put up with their entire lives.

Glad I am not Palestinian 

 

 

 

Interesting comments in that link.

I thought the Thais clashed with the Israelis so much because of their opposite manners and nature

But it looks like Israelis are not popular anywhere. Makes me think about what the Palestinians must have to put up with their entire lives.

Glad I am not Palestinian