Thai Public Growing Frustrated with Israeli Tourists, Poll Reveals

A recent poll in Thailand indicates a significant rise in public dissatisfaction with the behavior of Israeli tourists. According to findings released by the NIDA Institute on Monday, September 14, a substantial 77.49% of respondents reported encountering or hearing about problematic behavior from Israelis. These participants overwhelmingly believe Thai authorities should adopt a stricter approach and implement more severe measures against such "disrespectful" actions.

The survey results emerged just days after a large demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy in Bangkok, where protesters called for boycotts of Israel and demanded increased enforcement against foreigners breaking the law. The poll, conducted between September 8 and 10 among 1,410 eligible Thai citizens over 18, surveyed individuals in Bangkok and five other provinces. Of all respondents, 76.38% stated they had heard about inappropriate Israeli conduct through media or social networks, while 5.11% reported personal encounters.

Among those who had encountered or heard about such incidents, seven out of ten pointed to disrespect for Thai law as a key issue. Nearly half (45.96%) cited disrespect for local culture, and almost half (46.39%) noted rude speech or dismissive attitudes towards locals. Concerns were also raised about Israelis allegedly using Thai citizens as fronts for land (31.44%) or business (29.04%) ownership. Furthermore, 45% of respondents suggested shortening the permitted stay for Israelis in Thailand, and a quarter felt the government should assess national security implications of growing Israeli communities in certain areas.

Notably, the NIDA poll was titled "Jewish people," though its questions and results specifically addressed Israelis and their conduct. This survey follows a growing public campaign against Israelis in Thailand, including a September 10 protest led by activist Sonthi Limthongkul and other nationalist figures. In response to the criticism, Israel's Deputy Ambassador to Thailand, Rami Tepletzky, released a video in Thai acknowledging the embassy's seriousness regarding the concerns and highlighting its collaboration with local authorities and the distribution of a tourist code of conduct.

The rising tensions coincide with an increase in Israeli visitors. From January to August 2026, over 277,000 Israelis visited Thailand, a 7% rise from the previous year, contributing approximately $1.2 billion to the country's tourism revenue in 2025. Earlier in August, a protest in Phuket demanded a 15-day limit for Israeli tourists, with residents complaining about arrogant behavior and disregard for laws. This demand came after Thailand reduced the visa-free stay for dozens of nationalities, including Israel, from 60 to 30 days in July, yet Israeli tourist numbers continued to climb, with Phuket seeing a 52% increase in Israeli visitors in July 2026.