Fading Patience: Thailand's Tense Relationship with Foreign Tourists The protests on Phuket's Patong beach last August 28 were a stark reminder of the growing frustration among locals toward foreign visitors who consistently disregard Thai laws and customs.
The "Save Phuket" event, attended by an estimated 200 people, was a culmination of simmering tensions that had been building for months.
Thailand has introduced tougher measures to crack down on lawless tourists, including revoking visas and deporting foreigners who disrupt public order or engage in conduct deemed harmful to Thai society.