Thai Tour Company Refuses Service to Israeli Family

A Thai tour company, GreenLeaf, operating 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 family, planning their holiday trip with three children, expressed feelings of insult and helplessness upon receiving the unexpected message.

The mother of the family, Liat, told mako that she had been planning the trip for a long time and had contacted GreenLeaf after seeing recommendations on Facebook. She inquired about tours for mid-September.

Hours later, the company responded via email, 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 other local agencies." The email also suggested alternative agencies and apologized for the inconvenience.

Liat described the experience as shocking, saying, "I felt like I was punched in the stomach. I felt insulted, helpless, and sad. This is a destination we really dreamed of, and right now we just don't know what to do." She added that they had visited Thailand before without encountering such issues.

This incident occurs amidst a wave of online criticism and accusations in Thailand directed at Israeli tourists, fueled by various reports and documented incidents attributed to Israelis. However, some of these reports have later been found to be based on old or misattributed footage. The Israeli Embassy in Thailand has issued a clarification, warning that the spread of unverified information unfairly damages the image of Israeli tourists.