Thailand vows crackdown on tourists after public sex incidents in Phuket

Thailand's prime minister's office pledged Wednesday to prosecute foreign tourists for public indecency after videos of visitors engaging in sexual acts in tuk-tuks and on beaches spread widely on social media, according to The Korea Times.

The crackdown highlights a deepening tension between Thailand's tourism-dependent economy — it drew 33 million international visitors in 2025 and targets 33.5 million this year — and its socially conservative cultural norms. European arrivals fell nearly 16 percent in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, and total visitor numbers dropped 7 percent.

The most recent incident occurred Monday evening in the southern resort island of Phuket, where a 41-year-old Spanish man and a 43-year-old Peruvian woman were apprehended after footage of them having sex inside a tuk-tuk began circulating online, The Korea Times reported.

Under Thai law, public nudity and sexual acts in public carry fines of up to 5,000 baht, roughly $155. Authorities said they will also revoke visas, deport violators and add them to blacklists, while entertainment venues will face stricter inspections.

The prime minister's office said visitors who display "inappropriate behavior, including illicit drug use, would face prosecution as it contradicts the beautiful culture of Thailand," according to The Korea Times. The government added that the enforcement drive was "intended to safeguard Thailand's beautiful cultural values."

The Phuket case follows at least two other high-profile incidents this year. A French couple was arrested and deported last month after a beach altercation drew public attention, while a separate French couple was blacklisted and had their visas revoked following an earlier tuk-tuk video that went viral in 2026.

Thailand decriminalized cannabis in 2022, and observers have long noted a disconnect between its international reputation as a permissive destination and a domestic culture where even ordinary public displays of affection are widely considered inappropriate.

Overall tourist arrivals in Thailand fell 7 percent in April 2026 against the same month in 2025, raising concerns among industry officials as the country heads into its peak summer travel season.