Thailand to Enforce Stricter Controls on Tourist Behaviour After Repeated Public Sex Incidents
Thailand to Enforce Stricter Controls on Tourist Behaviour After Repeated Public Sex Incidents
BANGKOK, May 7, 2026 — Thailand has pledged to tighten enforcement against inappropriate behaviour by foreign tourists following a series of public sex incidents that authorities say have damaged the country’s image and offended local cultural values.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said tourists engaging in indecent conduct, including public sexual activity and drug use, would face legal action, possible visa revocation and deportation.
The warning followed a recent incident in Phuket, where a foreign couple was reportedly caught engaging in sexual activity on a tuk-tuk in a popular tourist area earlier this week.
Thai authorities said they are seeking to revoke the visas of a 41-year-old Spanish man and a 43-year-old Peruvian woman involved in the case. Officials said both individuals admitted wrongdoing and now face charges under Thailand’s public indecency laws.
Under Thai law, public nudity and sexual acts in public places can carry fines of up to 5,000 baht ($155).
The Prime Minister’s Office said the stricter measures are intended to protect Thailand’s cultural values and preserve the country’s international reputation as a tourist destination. Authorities also indicated that inspections and monitoring at entertainment venues and tourist hotspots would become more rigorous.
The latest case comes after several similar incidents in Phuket in recent months that sparked criticism on Thai social media.
In April, a French couple was arrested and deported after a video allegedly showing them having sex on a Phuket beach circulated widely online. Another French couple was separately blacklisted and had their visas revoked earlier this year after footage appeared to show them engaging in sexual activity on a tuk-tuk in Phuket.
Thailand remains one of Southeast Asia’s most visited tourist destinations, with officials increasingly emphasizing efforts to balance tourism promotion with public order and cultural sensitivities.
