25 August 2026, Thailand has revoked the visa of a Israeli tourist accused of causing trouble and allegedly putting a bounty on the owner of an open zoo on Koh Samui, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said. Speaking to reporters at Government House at 10:00 on 25 August before a Cabinet meeting, Surasak said he had been briefed on the case involving the Israeli tourist, who was accused of acting as though he had influence in Thailand. The minister said the tourist’s visa had already been revoked, effectively preventing the individual from remaining in Thailand. He said the move was intended as a decisive measure to prevent the situation from escalating and causing further problems. “Thailand is ready to welcome all tourists who abide by Thai laws and respect Thai culture,” Surasak said. “Thailand will not allow anyone to use our country as a platform for creating symbolic conflicts that have nothing to do with our country. We welcome all tourists, but we do not welcome tourists who come here to cause problems or use Thailand to express conflicts.” Surasak said the government was closely monitoring problems involving foreign tourists, with Prime Minister instructing provincial authorities, Tourist Police and regional police to respond to incidents as quickly as possible. Asked whether Thailand would review visas issued to tourists from countries whose nationals cause problems, Surasak said authorities would initially handle cases individually. “If there is a problem, we will expedite visa revocation,” he said, stressing that the measures would be applied on a case-by-case basis rather than targeting people based on nationality. He said the government would not generalise from the actions of one tourist to other visitors from the same country. Tourists to receive cultural guidance before arrival Asked how Thailand would ensure foreign tourists understand local rules and customs, Surasak said the Tourism Authority of Thailand had contacted embassies and asked airlines to help communicate information about Thai laws and local culture. The information would ideally be provided to travellers before they board their flights to Thailand, allowing them to understand what is permitted and what constitutes a violation of Thai law. Tourists would also be informed about Thai traditions and cultural practices, including the importance of mutual respect. Surasak said tourists who encounter problems or feel unsafe while in Thailand can contact the Tourist Police for assistance. #israeli #visa #thailand - @landofsmiles911