Picture courtesy of MGR Online

 

An Israeli tourist's refusal to adhere to a "shoes off" rule in a Koh Pha Ngan café has stirred a social media storm, highlighting growing tensions surrounding tourist behaviour in Thailand. The incident, captured on a 15-second video shared by the Koh Pha Ngan Conscious Community Facebook page, shows the tourist engaging in a verbal altercation with café staff after being asked to remove her footwear before entering.

 

The video, now widely circulated online, begins with the woman asserting that Israeli tourists play a crucial role in bolstering Thailand's economy. Instead of following the simple request, she suggested that their contribution to tourism should exempt her from such local customs. This disregard for the cultural norm of removing shoes—a common practice meant to maintain cleanliness and show respect—sparked immediate backlash.

 

Viewers, both Thai and international, quickly condemned the behaviour as entitled and disrespectful. The incident fuelled existing frustrations, as Israeli tourists have recently been at the centre of several similar controversies throughout Thailand, with locals calling for more respect from their international guests.

 

After the footage went viral, the tourist released a statement attempting to explain her actions. In a defensive narrative, she argued that her comments were misinterpreted. Her statement read, "I was trying to emphasise how much Israelis contribute to the Thai economy, not to belittle the culture." She added that she had received verbal and physical aggression from others at the café and stressed that her footwear was kept on only because of foot pain.

 

She also claimed that the person who filmed the encounter was another customer, not a staff member, and maintained that she had initially been given permission to keep her shoes on by the café personnel. The tourist further accused those who recorded the disagreement of distorting the situation and omitting the context of her alleged mistreatment.

 

Despite her explanation, the apology has largely fallen on deaf ears. Critics argue that her attempt to shift blame and context only exacerbates negative perceptions of Israeli tourists, who have been criticised for frequent disruptive behaviour in the region.

 

The incident has ignited broader discussions on social media about the need for tourists to respect local customs and the potential long-term impact such disputes could have on Thailand's tourism industry. As tension mounts, many wonder what measures can be implemented to foster mutual respect and understanding between local communities and their international visitors.

 

 

 

 

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-06

 

 

Many tourists feel this way.  They are so much better then the low poor Thais and Thais should kiss up to them. Disrespectful, sickening and shameful attitudes.

Deport her....

8 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Many tourists feel this way. 

Not only tourists...

Many posters have posted things in the line of "my money builds your country".

And most posters here seem to think that a person who doesn't speak English is something subhuman 

 

OMG....no wonder she wanted to keep her shoes on.....

48 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

OMG....no wonder she wanted to keep her shoes on.....

 

this is a deep fake picture... she actually had 6 toes on each foot... talk about fakes!

Thailand is not the place if you have any specific ocd of kind

 

I had mine with public toilets, but getting better by the years

If she didn't talk.... I would. 

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli .

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy .

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue .

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis 

This subject keeps getting deleted on reddit...people getting warnings every second comment...hot topic.

 

There was a really funny AI toy figure of the woman generated with her ciggies and shoes..."May moonnney!" see this thing more and more....there was a "passporbro one" for the guys getting drugged with scopolamine in Meddelin...Guy in designer shirt/$100s moneyclip/drug bag/hot chick on hinge app on phone screen ....they are so spot-on as visual comments...if you have not seen the images they are so funny.

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli .

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy .

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue .

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis 

 

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli . - any evidence to support this?

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy . - any evidence to support this?

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed - obviously you either don;t live in thailand, and/or are totally ignorant of thai culture/customs

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue . - any evidence to support this?

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis - what goes around, comes around, my friend.

1 minute ago, it is what it is said:

 

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy . - any evidence to support this?

 

 

  Do you know what "most probably" means ?

If you did, then you wouldn't be asking me to provide any evidence 

4 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed - obviously you either don;t live in thailand, and/or are totally ignorant of thai culture/customs

 

 

  I have often seen people walking into shops and staff not bothered whether shoes are removed or not and they have never gotten confrontational about it .

  Besides , it was stated that she was allowed to wear shoes inside anyway

4 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  I have often seen people walking into shops and staff not bothered whether shoes are removed or not and they have never gotten confrontational about it .

  Besides , it was stated that she was allowed to wear shoes inside anyway

Stated by the rude entitled Israeli who I'm going to doubt here. Her behavior fits a pattern and she is just making excuses after she got caught.

 

The key point here is that she told a Thai that "my monee built your country" <mic drop> <wink> in 4K. Great viral moment.

1 minute ago, zakalwe said:

 

The key point here is that she told a Thai that "my monee built your country" <mic drop> <wink> in 4K. Great viral moment.

 

   That is quite a tame thing to say , especially if she was responding to abuse 

9 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   That is quite a tame thing to say , especially if she was responding to abuse 

What abuse? Getting asked to remove her shoes? If she was getting abused like she claimed (again doubt, like most Thais), she should have taken out her phone and started recording. Everyone takes out their phone to record abuse nowadays.

stupid nonsense 

46 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli .

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy .

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue .

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis 

Presumptuous twaddle. She would just appear as an foreign tourist. It was her bringing her (we are special) nationality into it and saying that ‘her money builds your country’. Disgraceful behaviour which reflects badly on all of us. 

2 minutes ago, zakalwe said:

What abuse? Getting asked to remove her shoes? If she was getting abused like she claimed (again doubt, like most Thais), she should have taken out her phone and started recording. Everyone takes out their phone to record abuse nowadays.

 

  She didn't get asked to remove her shoes though , she had a foot injury and the shop owner said she could keep her shoes on .

   Why not show the full video ?

You last sentence contradicts the previous sentence 

3 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

. It was her bringing her (we are special) nationality into it and saying that ‘her money builds your country’. Disgraceful behaviour which reflects badly on all of us. 

 

  What are you saying ?

That she is from the Country called "money" ?

Is her Nationality "money" ?

I don't think that she did mention that she's from Israel .

   

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

, she suggested that their contribution to tourism should exempt her from such local customs

"I was trying to emphasise how much Israelis contribute to the Thai economy

Best she keeps her shoes on, we don't want her spreading her foot rot on the clean floors. 

 

If it's true thst the staff said OK and then customers bothered her then regardless of her obnoxious rant the customers should have shut their pie holes about it.

But we don't really know if the staff gave permission.

I've personally been in situations where there are shoes outside where the staff proactively communicares that its optional and they're much more interested in my business than my feet.

Also some places are a shoe thefft risk.

I visit my wife's family members in Korat 5-6 times every year. The thing that gets me in most cases their feet are dirtier than their shoes.

37 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If it's true thst the staff said OK and then customers bothered her then regardless of her obnoxious rant the customers should have shut their pie holes about it.

But we don't really know if the staff gave permission.

I've personally been in situations where there are shoes outside where the staff proactively communicares that its optional and they're much more interested in my business than my feet.

Also some places are a shoe thefft risk.

Shut their pie holes ...charming turn of phrase  . Thought it was a low class tourist for a second !

40 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

I visit my wife's family members in Korat 5-6 times every year. The thing that gets me in most cases their feet are dirtier than their shoes.

 

Don't worry they used on of those bamboo floor sweepers....all is well with the universe. 

8 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Shut their pie holes ...charming turn of phrase  . Thought it was a low class tourist for a second !

Yeah I enjoy using colorful language. Anyway, all I'm saying here is that we do have some direct evidence that the shoe wearing lady was being obnoxious. However, what we don't really know is how others in the shop behaved. 

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli .

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy .

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue .

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis 

wrong, Thais do not like shoes being worn inside the house, if a shop, cafe etc... has a sign asking you to take of your shoes then people will respect their request. If you do not follow the request, then they may not say anything as they do not like confrontation yet will not be happy.

When you visit another country, respect their culture, very easy to do, do not stoop to “I have more money than you comment” just makes you look very stupid and is insulting.

 

As for being targeted for being Jewish, one called say she targeted the cafe workers because they are Thai and she thinks she is superior than them.

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Targeted for being Jewish/Israeli .

Most probably instigated and filmed by an enemy .

Thais are usually non plussed about shoes being worn or removed

She also states that the restaurant owner was OK with shoes being worn .

Its quite likely that she was responding to some unsavory abuse unrelated to the shoe issue .

   An example of what Israelis have to deal with and  a reason why they aren't always friendly to non Israelis 

Do you think Israelis are just picked on for no reason?

This chick was just minding her business and these people verbally attacked her?

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   That is quite a tame thing to say , especially if she was responding to abuse 

it is an insult 

5 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

wrong, Thais do not like shoes being worn inside the house, if a shop, cafe etc... has a sign asking you to take of your shoes then people will respect their request. If you do not follow the request, then they may not say anything as they do not like confrontation yet will not be happy.

When you visit another country, respect their culture, very easy to do, do not stoop to “I have more money than you comment” just makes you look very stupid and is insulting.

 

As for being targeted for being Jewish, one called say she targeted the cafe workers because they are Thai and she thinks she is superior than them.

That clip does show her as very obnoxious in that clip.

However, if it is true that she did get permission from the staff to keep her shoes on, it really isn't about Thai culture. It's about a specific conflict that happened in the shop perhaps with other Karen like customers.

To me that's the key.

As I've implied before the shoes off thing in businesses is actually much more flexible in real life than many may realize. When you live here you become expert in seeing when it's a very serious no exceptions thing vs. actually the business not really caring much at all either way.