UPDATE: Thai foreign minister urges Israeli nationals to obey laws as Koh Samui zoo co-owner detained
Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has warned Israeli nationals to obey Thai laws and respect local customs after tensions in Phuket and elsewhere, while French national Kevin Dimino, co-owner of Samui Exotic Park, has been detained ahead of deportation.
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, has urged Israeli nationals to obey Thai laws and respect local customs after a series of incidents in Phuket and other tourist destinations.
Sihasak delivered the warning during a meeting with Israel’s ambassador to Thailand, Dr Alona Fisher-Kamm, on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. He described the discussion as a “frank, straight-to-the-point conversation” and said the incidents had caused concern among Thai people.
The minister distinguished between Israeli nationals running businesses in Thailand and tourists whose conduct has caused local tensions. He said businesses found to have broken Thai law would face enforcement, stressing that the same rules applied to foreigners of every nationality.
Sihasak also said some Israeli tourists and long-stay visitors had behaved in ways that conflicted with Thai culture, traditions and community life, with concerns reported particularly in Phuket, Phang Nga and Pattaya. “Thailand is a country that welcomes tourists, but our hospitality does not mean that visitors, whatever their nationality, can do as they please here,” he said.
The meeting followed months of tension involving Israeli visitors and expatriates in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Pai. One dispute on Koh Samui involved an Israeli restaurant owner and a French zoo operator. Reports said the confrontation escalated online and that Thai authorities moved to revoke both men’s visas and deport them.
The French operator in that dispute has been identified as Kevin Dimino, co-owner of Samui Exotic Park on Koh Samui. Immigration officers detained Dimino on 8 September after authorities searched for him and took him to Koh Samui Police Station for questioning and processing. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed Dimino’s deportation order on 7 September.
The Interior Ministry cited six alleged incidents involving harassment, threats and physical confrontations. Officials said they could not formally notify Dimino at the animal park because it had closed. Dimino can appeal within seven days of receiving formal notification, and officials have not confirmed when he will leave Thailand.
Fisher-Kamm acknowledged the concerns and said the Israeli embassy was distributing guidance to travellers. Sihasak called for a stronger response to prevent the disputes from damaging relations between Thailand and Israel.
