Report Israeli Tourist Sparks Outrage Over Shoe Rule Dispute in Thailand

[renaissanc]

Dear Israeli Tourist,

Would you dress like that in a Muslim country? ... No. Why not? Because covering yourself up is a custom in such countries. You don't have to agree with it, but it's a custom. In many shops, restaurants, homes, etc., in Thailand, the practice of taking off your shoes is a custom. You don't have to agree with it. Just respect it, please. Lastly, please apologise to the shop staff. Apologising is a global custom.

[Yagoda]

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Can't speak for the Thai economy, but it certainly prevents my wife & kids from having to live in her family's corrugated iron hut.

Air conditioning! Keeps the direct transfers down.

[renaissanc]

Dear Israeli Tourist,

Would you dress like that in a Muslim country? ... No. Why not? Because covering yourself up is a custom in such countries. You don't have to agree with it, but it's a custom. In many shops, restaurants, homes, etc., in Thailand, the practice of taking off your shoes is a custom. You don't have to agree with it. Just respect it, please. Lastly, please apologise to the shop staff. Apologising is a global custom also practised in Israel.

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, Dionigi said:

possibly misusing most probably when you mean possibly. most probably means likely to be true needing evidence, possibly means conjecture or opinion and not needing evidence.

 

   It seems quite obvious that she was reacting to some unpleasant remarks

[steven100]

25 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  If the shop owners aren't bothered about it , I don't know why you are  

 

not really bothered,  but her tone and comments if correct speak of arrogance & entitlement.  I think she handled the request to keep her shoes on very bad,  and then tried to lie with her sore foot reason after being caught out. 

she'd have been better off just leaving the cafe and going to another that allows her entitled ways,  after all ...  wasn't it her money that built Thailand ...  Lol   

 

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, renaissanc said:

Dear Israeli Tourist,

Would you dress like that in a Muslim country? ... No. Why not? Because covering yourself up is a custom in such countries. You don't have to agree with it, but it's a custom. In many shops, restaurants, homes, etc., in Thailand, the practice of taking off your shoes is a custom. You don't have to agree with it. Just respect it, please. Lastly, please apologise to the shop staff. Apologising is a global custom also practised in Israel.

 

   The shop staff said they had no problem with her wearing shoes

[RJRS1301]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

 

 

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

 

 

Zionist sense of entitlement to everything and no respect for others

 

[phetphet]

Removing shoes when entering a shop or café used to be much more prevalent. Nowadays many don't seem to mind. They even stopped it at Samui Immigration in the last year or two, but many places still have signs asking that customers remove shoes, especially if they have polished wooden floors. I also find many pharmacies still request shoe removal.

 

I actually think it is a good thing, and we all do it at home. If the café owner gave her permission, then no problem, but it really isn't a big deal to kick off one's footwear. Perhaps she had a reason to not want to do it.

 

[jesimps]

I'm fine with taking off shoes, but I wish they'd put a chair or a bench outside so that I didn't have to crouch or balance on one leg to remove a trainer. I'm 80 yoa and ok with squatting, it's standing back up that's the problem. 

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

Dear Israeli Tourist,

Would you dress like that in a Muslim country? ... No. Why not? Because covering yourself up is a custom in such countries. You don't have to agree with it, but it's a custom. In many shops, restaurants, homes, etc., in Thailand, the practice of taking off your shoes is a custom. You don't have to agree with it. Just respect it, please. Lastly, please apologise to the shop staff. Apologising is a global custom.

Don't think Israeli's holiday in Muslim countries, unless in full military kit.

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

 

not really bothered,  but her tone and comments if correct speak of arrogance & entitlement.  I think she handled the request to keep her shoes on very bad,  and then tried to lie with her sore foot reason after being caught out. 

she'd have been better off just leaving the cafe and going to another that allows her entitled ways,  after all ...  wasn't it her money that built Thailand ...  Lol   

 

 

   She was speaking to some other customers , customers that were being abusive to her .

  She told the staff that she had a bad foot and they didn't mind her keeping her shoes on 

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

To know why what?

to know why she carried on like an arrogant so and so ...     because she's Israeli she thinks she's entitled to do as she wants.  now you understand what I was saying  ...  

[Kung69]

4 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

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

It's arrogant bull<deleted>.

[fredwiggy]

Just now, steven100 said:

to know why she carried on like an arrogant so and so ...     because she's Israeli she thinks she's entitled to do as she wants.  now you understand what I was saying  ...  

No, it seems like you are against Israelis for some other reason. It isn't just Israelis that cause trouble here. All nationalities have those who are arrogant and think they can do whatever they want, especially in a foreign country.

[Kung69]

4 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

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

It's arrogant bull<deleted>.

[watchcat]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think Israeli's holiday in Muslim countries, unless in full military kit.

 

Well this one obviously did.....

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

to know why she carried on like an arrogant so and so ...     because she's Israeli she thinks she's entitled to do as she wants.  now you understand what I was saying  ...  

 

   The shop owner wasn't concerned about it .

Really nothing to do with what Country she comes from .

Its just Anti Israelis who seem to have a problem with it 

[NorthernRyland]

5 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

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

 

[thjames007]

5 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 

She claims!  After the fact and we don't believe her.   

 

We go by what she actually said, which is fact.   Doesn't matter where she from... She was disrespectful.  

 

To blame someone else for filming her is crazy!  

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, Kung69 said:

It's arrogant bull<deleted>.

 

   Its true though , tourists money is the only reason for the islands development 

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, thjames007 said:

To blame someone else for filming her is crazy!  

 

  This is getting ridiculous .

I think that I'll leave it to you guys to flex , flex and attack a woman for not talking her shoes off , even though she kept her shoes on because her foot was bad 

[ryandb]

Sure, Israeli money built this country.... lol 

 

Sorry, but your fellow citizens (along with 2 other nations at war at the moment) are destroying the Islands with your illegal (95% of listings are not via company) subletting of every rental property, exploiting the country.

 

Signed a British Jew

[mrmicbkktxl]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

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

 

Why anyone should take of the shoes if go shopping in whatever shop?It's a fuc...ing annoyment.Ok for me, thais

are walking in flip flaps all day,but most tourists don't.If they to lazy to clean the floor regulary it's their problem.

you can't expect every tourist is taking of the shoes before entering a place of business.

[MeRakThai]

2 hours ago, frank83628 said:

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

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

Israeli playing the "victim" card again.

[Ironmike]

You dont walk into another country and insult the people or traditions she looks like a self important bimbo also no one has commented on the idiot sitting next to her without a shirt on let's all go to Israel and walk around there temples and into restaurants half naked and see what happens,, deport them both make example of that trash. 

[ronster]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

Well she can keep her shoes on and leave much like most of the travellers from her country can.

Swan around talking and acting like they have the right to do whatever and can't ever be questioned or wrong.

[Cabradelmar]

Jewish privilege is off the rails. 

[wwest5829]

Having traveled to .japan, Czech Republic and living in Thailand taking shoes off is anticipated. I was more surprised at a guy in a restaurant with no shirt. What’s with that? Guess my own cultural background … no shoes, no shirt, no service …

[NorthernRyland]

2 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Western privilege is off the rails. 

Israel is Western now???

[Cabradelmar]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Israel is Western now???

It terms of it's economic and political system, certainly. Just because they where resettled by the British to Palestine is incidental.