Thai Tour Company Refuses Service to Israeli Family

A tour company in Thailand, GreenLeaf, which operates tours in Khao Yai National Park, refused to provide services to an Israeli family, citing that their guides are unwilling to work with Israeli tourists. The mother of the family, who was planning a holiday trip with her three children, described feeling insulted and helpless upon receiving the surprising message from the local company.

The Israeli family had been planning their trip to Thailand for a long time and began researching attractions to build their itinerary. After seeing recommendations for GreenLeaf on Facebook groups, the mother contacted the company via email to inquire about tours for mid-September.

Several hours later, the family received a response stating, "We apologize that we cannot arrange the trip for you. After discussions with all our tour guides, all guides are no longer willing to lead tours for Israeli tourists. Therefore, we ask you to consider touring with other local agencies." The email also suggested alternative agencies and apologized for the inconvenience.

The mother expressed her shock and hurt, stating, "We have been to Thailand before and never encountered anything like this. At first, I thought it was due to a heavy workload, but when I understood the real reason, I felt punched in the stomach. I felt insulted, helpless, and sad. This is a destination we truly dreamed of, and right now, we simply don't know what to do."

This incident occurs against a backdrop of online criticism and accusations in Thailand directed at Israeli tourists, fueled by reports and documentation of various incidents attributed to Israelis. However, in some cases, these reports have turned out to be based on old or misrepresented footage. The Israeli embassy in Thailand has issued a clarification warning that the spread of unverified information unfairly damages the image of Israeli tourists.