PHUKET, Thailand – A Patong tuk-tuk driver has accused an Israeli tourist of threatening him during a dispute over a fare on Phuket’s Thawiwong Road on August 9, with footage from the driver’s dashboard camera later posted online and attracting widespread criticism.

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The confrontation, involving an Israeli family of five and an Australian couple already in the tuk-tuk, occurred at approximately 8:15 PM in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. The driver, posting under the Facebook name “Oiltuktukpatong Saranate,” initially captioned a video: “Let’s see what the Israeli family did.” He subsequently uploaded further footage, alleging that the tourists swore at him, spat at him, and tried to lift a concrete roadside barrier to intimidate him.

According to the driver, the Israeli family, consisting of a couple and their three children, had first approached him earlier that evening to ask the fare for a journey to the Patong beach area. However, they could not agree on a price and went their separate ways. Soon afterwards, an Australian couple approached the vehicle and got in. The Israeli family then returned and said they wanted to share the tuk-tuk ride, but the driver refused because he already had passengers.

The driver alleged that the Israeli man then told the Australian couple to leave the vehicle so that his family could use it. The driver said he would not agree, leading to a heated exchange. The tuk-tuk driver further claimed that the Israeli man used offensive language and shouted for him to leave the area. He said the man appeared at one point to try to lift a concrete barrier beside the road, with the driver fearing it might be used to attack him, although the man was reportedly unable to lift it.

Only parts of the exchange were recorded by the tuk-tuk’s dashcam, and online discussion has largely focused on the disputed fare and the allegation that the Australian passengers were told to get out of the vehicle. The driver, who said he has worked in Phuket’s tourism sector for several decades, said such verbal abuse and alleged intimidation should not happen in a major tourist destination.

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No official response or outcome has been reported by authorities, and it remains unclear whether the Israeli tourist will face any charges. The incident has added to ongoing concerns about tourist behaviour and conflicts with local service providers in Thailand’s popular resort areas, with local officials likely to face renewed calls to address complaints from both tourists and business operators. Neither the Israeli embassy nor local police have issued statements regarding the incident at this time.

-Thailand News (TN)