PHUKET, Thailand – A Thai travel agency worker in Patong has alleged that a foreign woman spat at her after being told to stop asking customers for money near the business, in an incident that has drawn attention to the presence of foreign beggars operating in the popular tourist area. The confrontation reportedly took place at approximately midnight on August 16 at a travel and tour agency in Soi Saen Sabai, Patong, with Phuket Times publishing CCTV footage of the incident on August 17 that shows the exchange between the employee and the woman.

Tourists Complain About Foreign Beggars with Children in Pattaya

According to local media reports, a group of foreign beggars, said to be from Middle Eastern countries, have regularly walked along Soi Saen Sabai with a child, approaching foreign tourists for money, and on the night in question, one woman from the group allegedly walked up to the travel agency and approached customers seeking cash, prompting a Thai employee to ask her to stop, reportedly saying the behaviour was disturbing customers. The woman became angry, went to the counter, pointed at the employee while swearing, and allegedly told the worker to mind her own business before spitting at her and leaving the office, after which the employee told a colleague about the alleged assault and the colleague went to the area carrying a chair for self-defence, but the group had already left.

แก๊งขอทานอาหรับเหิมเกริม‼️ ด่า ถ่มน้ำลายใส่ หลังคนไทยไปเตือนบอกว่า อย่าทำแบบนั้น นักท่องเที่ยวเค้ารำคาญเวลาเอาเด็กมาเดินขอตังค์ พวกมันเลยไม่พอใจปรี่เข้ามาชี้หน้าบ่นด่าใส่ บอกเสือกอย่ามายุ่ง เหตุในซอยแสนสบาย ป่าตอง ภูเก็ต

คลิป Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์ pic.twitter.com/0cXgSdgFxB

— Mr.Hap (@Mr_Whathapened) August 17, 2026

There have been no reports of a police complaint or legal action arising from the incident, and the identities and nationalities of those involved have not been disclosed, with police having not issued a statement on the case. The incident has prompted discussion on Thai social media, where some users said begging is illegal in Thailand and called for police and local officials to act, while other users said they had encountered the same or a similar group of foreign beggars and alleged that they had been asked for money and food.

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The case has raised broader concerns about the regulation of foreign nationals engaging in street begging in tourist hotspots, with calls for authorities to take more proactive measures to address such activities. Tourism-dependent Phuket has seen a resurgence of visitors following the pandemic, and incidents involving aggressive behaviour by foreign nationals have become a recurring topic of public concern, though official responses have remained limited.

-Thailand News (TN)