Thailand has pledged to strengthen monitoring of tourist conduct following a string of incidents involving foreign visitors engaging in sexual acts in public, saying such behaviour harms the country’s reputation.
The tourism sector remains a key pillar of the Thai economy, although international visitor numbers have yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.
In a statement released on Wednesday, May 6, the Prime Minister’s Office warned that tourists found engaging in inappropriate activities, including public indecency and illegal drug use, would face legal action as such behaviour conflicts with Thailand’s cultural values.
The announcement came after authorities in Phuket discovered a foreign couple engaging in a sexual act inside a tuk-tuk in a busy tourist district on Monday evening.
Officials said they are seeking to revoke the visas of a 41-year-old man from Spain and a 43-year-old woman from Peru before deporting and blacklisting them from re-entering the country.
According to the government, both individuals admitted to the offence and were subsequently charged under Thailand’s public indecency laws.
Under Thai law, public nudity and sexual activity in public spaces can carry fines of up to 5,000 baht (US$155).
The government said the latest measures are aimed at protecting Thailand’s cultural image and maintaining public order in major tourist destinations.
Authorities also confirmed that inspections of entertainment venues and nightlife areas would be intensified as part of the crackdown.
While Thailand has long been associated internationally with sex tourism, the country remains largely socially conservative, with public displays of affection often viewed negatively.
At the same time, Thailand has become a popular destination among backpackers and younger travellers, particularly after the decriminalisation of cannabis in 2022 and the continued popularity of beach parties and nightlife scenes.
Last month, local media reported that a French couple was arrested and deported after footage showing them engaging in sexual activity on a Phuket beach circulated widely online.
Earlier this year, another French couple was reportedly blacklisted and had their visas cancelled after a video showing them having sex inside a tuk-tuk in Phuket sparked widespread backlash on social media.
Thailand is forecasting approximately 33.5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, slightly higher than the nearly 33 million recorded in 2025, according to government figures.
However, tourism ministry data showed total arrivals in April fell seven per cent year-on-year, while visitor numbers from Europe declined by almost 16 per cent during the same period.
