Over the past week, a clip showing a group of Thai tourists acting improperly while visiting the world-famous Yellowstone National Park in the US has dominated public attention.
The clip was posted on YouTube by netizen "Jeffh 34" on Aug 7 and quickly went viral. In the clip, the Thai tourists ignored a warning sign and entered a fragile thermal area to pose for photos.
According to media reports, the netizen who took the clip had tried to warn the ignorant tourists to stay out of the area but they apparently became offended over his warning, and demanded that he erase the clip, which triggered an online uproar.
A female member of the group tried to justify their act. In an interview with Thai-language media, the woman was adamant her group had done nothing wrong. The reason? "Other tourists also entered and walked on the area. Before us, there was a group of farang visitors. It's just that our group is big" and that the warning sign "was very small". She said if the area is dangerous and off-limits, the park "must put a much larger sign".
The woman also claimed park officials, "who are everywhere", did not try to stop the group, and that made her think what her group did was fine. But obviously it's not. Her lack of remorse attracted even more criticism on conventional and social media. Many lambasted the tourists and branded the group a "national shame".
Under strong social media pressure, members of the group finally succumbed and offered public apologies.
That may sound like the case is closed with a happy ending for everyone -- but it's not. On the contrary, we have to be aware that the Yellowstone incident is just one of the many examples of Thai tourists who fail to behave. Before this we heard of numerous cases of bad behaviour by Thai tourists in countries such as Japan. Some Thai tourists ignore all kinds of warning signs, display a lack of sensitivity or respect for local traditions, pick flowers and make loud noises. There was a case of a family who managed to cheat on public transport fares, and so on and so forth. Some even boasted of their unbecoming acts on Facebook without remorse.
Over the past years many of us have enjoyed reprimanding -- and even looking down on -- Chinese tourists. We ridicule their lack of toilet manners, and other forms of social etiquette. In 2013, the Chinese government had to issue a guide to its citizens on how to avoid being terrible tourists.
But several accounts on social media should make us realise that we should look at ourselves and learn to behave. That may not be an easy task, that millions of Thais travel abroad each year. But we should not let the issue slip. The Yellowstone incident shows us social pressure is working like magic, but by the time an issue becomes known, the damage is done.
What is needed is a proactive way to deal with the problem, in particular a campaign to educate fellow Thais to make them decent citizens, starting with simple issues like queuing and learning to say sorry.
Thai tourists who fail to behave while visiting domestic destinations, for example those selfie addicts who parked in inappropriate places for some nice pictures, without concern for public safety, must face at least a slap on the wrist, or legal punishment. Those who visit cultural destinations must learn to show respect for traditions and local beliefs.
We should remember: "Discipline begins at home."