A recent confrontation between a Thai tourism advisor and a foreign tourist has sparked intense debate across Thai social media platforms, raising questions about cultural sensitivity and the responsibilities of public figures in tourism. The incident, which took place on a beach in Krabi province and was captured on video, involved a disagreement over the use of the Chinese greeting “Ni Hao.”
The video, which quickly circulated online, shows Siranath Bhiromphakdee—widely known as Sai Scott—engaging in a dispute with a foreign visitor, identified as Russian. According to Scott, he felt disrespected when the tourist greeted him in Chinese and allegedly laughed after Scott explained that no guides were available for a boat trip to a nearby island. Scott later confronted the tourist again, urging him to leave the area by boat.
The event has divided public opinion in Thailand. While some view the greeting as culturally insensitive, others argue that Scott’s reaction was excessive. The incident has prompted foreigners to respond online, with some pointing out that Thais often refer to Westerners as “farang,” a colloquial term for foreigner, and suggesting that this too could be seen as reductive.
In an interview with local media, Scott claimed that his position as an advisor to Thailand’s National Park Department had been terminated following the incident. He defended his actions, stating that he aimed to challenge what he perceived as racially inappropriate behavior.
However, on April 19, Attapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, stated that no formal dismissal had taken place. He clarified that advisory positions are contracted on an annual basis and that Scott had only been advised—via a message on the Line app—to reconsider how he conducts himself in his role.
Attapol emphasized that Scott’s conduct and social media activity had caused discomfort among marine park officials, leading to previous reprimands. He noted that personal content creation in protected areas requires prior authorization and stressed that Scott’s duties were limited to advisory work, not law enforcement. The Director-General added that his intent was to ensure smooth operations and that feedback given to Scott was meant to be constructive.
The situation escalated further on the same day, when 68 tour guides and tourism operators from Krabi province lodged a formal complaint with both the National Park Department and the provincial governor. They accused Scott of misrepresenting himself as a government official and of using social media to publicly criticize local individuals and businesses.
The complaint alleges that Scott regularly posts images and commentary about local tourism operators without verifying facts, thereby harming reputations and straining relationships between communities, officials, and conservation efforts. The signatories called for a review of Scott’s actions and urged the Department to implement clear guidelines for the appointment of advisors.
While the Department has yet to respond to the complaint in detail, the controversy highlights ongoing tensions between national park authorities, tourism stakeholders, and the public perception of conduct within protected areas.
Attendees at recent meetings discussing the issue included various provincial tourism stakeholders and officials from the Department of National Parks, though specific names were not disclosed in the official statements.
