"My money built your country" – How Israeli tourists are turning Thailand into a colony

There's one sentence that explains everything. An Israeli tourist on Koh Phangan was asked to remove her shoes before entering a Thai restaurant—a matter of course, a fundamental gesture of respect for a millennia-old culture. Her response, which went viral and has since been seen on thousands of screens in Thailand and around the world: "My money built your country." No comment needed. The sentence speaks for itself.

«Save Koh Phangan» – when locals fight for their island
What is happening on Koh Phangan is not a cultural misunderstanding. It is the result of a systematic process that has been ongoing for years and has now prompted official investigations. Tourism on Koh Phangan has grown by more than 200 percent in the past two years. There are currently 4030 Israeli citizens in the Surat Thani province alone – 2548 on Koh Phangan and 1279 on Koh Samui.

That wouldn't be a problem in itself. Tourists come, tourists go. But these people come and stay. Around 2000 Israeli citizens currently live on Koh Phangan, about 500 of them permanently, many working in the real estate, car rental, and business sectors. Local residents have created a Facebook page called "Save Koh Phangan" because they fear their island is becoming a "second Tel Aviv." This isn't xenophobia. This is the despair of people watching their habitat being systematically taken over.

The method is as simple as it is effective: Some Israelis on Koh Phangan operate villas, restaurants, travel agencies, and other businesses that primarily cater to Israeli tourists—through Thai straw men, since foreigners are not allowed to own land in Thailand. They buy land they are not allowed to buy. They run companies they are not allowed to run. They employ Burmese workers without permits. And they build luxury villas in the national park, accompanied by reports of illegal construction, deforestation, and even bribery of local officials.

War stress as a license to act
After October 7, 2023, record numbers of Israeli tourists flocked to Thailand. Between January and September 2025, approximately 300,000 Israeli tourists visited Thailand – an increase of 57 percent. Many of them are military reservists seeking rest and recuperation after serving in the Gaza Strip. On Koh Phangan, "healing centers" were established, including six Chabad houses – exclusive communities for Israelis where access is denied to non-Israelis, allegedly for security reasons.

That sounds understandable – PTSD is real, experiences of war are traumatic. Less understandable is what happened simultaneously. A viral video shows an exclusively Israeli party, supposedly intended to relieve war-related stress – which caused considerable damage to the building, forcing the owner to carry out renovations. And then there were those groups who publicly celebrated the military action in Gaza – which was met with incomprehension and disgust by locals and other tourists.

War stress as a free pass for property damage, visa violations and non-payment of restaurant bills: That is a remarkably elastic definition of recreation.

The law enforcement responds
The Thai authorities have reacted – with the determination of those who have watched for too long. Between 2023 and 2025, 20 cases were registered on Koh Phangan, including working without a permit, visa violations, unauthorized business operations, theft, drug offenses, assault, counterfeiting, and contempt of court.

In recent months, more than 23 Israelis have been arrested for illegal activities. A special commission under the governor of Surat Thani is investigating land ownership, business dealings, and compliance with the law. Police have conducted coordinated raids that have uncovered front-man structures. In 2025 alone, 3249 visas were revoked for foreigners who had committed crimes or caused public disturbances.

In a particularly surreal chapter of this story, the Koh Phangan Hotel Association approached the local Chabad rabbi and asked him to publish announcements in Hebrew reminding Israeli visitors to behave respectfully and obey the laws.

You call a rabbi to explain to your people that you don't wear shoes in restaurants in foreign countries and that you pay your bills. That's where de-escalation begins.

The pattern that repeats itself
What is happening in Thailand is not an isolated incident. Israeli tourists have a dubious reputation worldwide, built up over decades. In India, particularly in Goa and Pushkar, reports of disrespectful behavior, drug use, and conflicts with locals have been documented since the 1990s. In Nepal, in Southeast Asia, on the Greek islands – everywhere the same pattern: mass presence, parallel structures for their own communities, minimal integration into local customs.

It's astonishing that in Thailand one can openly criticize Israelis and their behavior. That would be completely unthinkable in Europe. This highlights a structural problem that extends beyond Thailand. In Europe, the label of antisemitism protects any behavior from criticism. In Thailand, where this instrument doesn't exist, one can simply observe: some guests behave terribly. Regardless of their nationality, religion, or trauma.

Respect is not a Western specialty. Nor is it a weakness. It is the fundamental prerequisite for being welcomed in a foreign country.
"My money built your country." No. Your money paid for hotel rooms. The rest was built by the Thais themselves. For millennia…