I recently visited Thailand with my family in a group of nine, and unfortunately, our experience was far from what we had hoped for. Having traveled to over 15 20 countries, this trip stood out not for its beauty, but for the sheer lack of hospitality and sensitivity we encountered, particularly toward tourists, and perhaps even more so toward Indian travelers.
From the moment we landed, the tone was set at immigration. One member of our group has a mild mobility issue, and yet there was no consideration shown. A female immigration officer aggressively snatched the passports from my brother’s family and sent them alone to another counter. When my wife attempted to accompany them to ensure things were smooth, the officer began yelling and shouting at her to stay where she was. This unpleasant exchange led to a major issue, our children’s passports were mixed up, and my son’s passport was stamped against my nephew’s entry. We were made to wait an additional 30 45 minutes while this was rectified, with zero courtesy or empathy from the officials involved.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Throughout the trip, we were repeatedly met with rudeness, especially from the local drivers, despite being part of a pre-arranged and paid group tour. Several drivers were outright arrogant, using phrases like get out if we asked a question or raised any confusion. There was a complete lack of patience or care, especially for someone in our group who needed mobility assistance. Their attitude was dismissive and indifferent, and we felt more like a burden than guests.
The general public, too, came across as unwelcoming. In shops, simply trying a product without buying often resulted in angry stares or even cursing in their local language. Language barriers were extreme, even in shopping malls and tourist areas, most people did not understand or speak a single word of English. Communication was a constant struggle, which is surprising for a country that promotes itself as a tourist destination.
There were a couple of exceptions, two out of the six drivers we encountered were kind and went out of their way to help, using translator apps to guide us and provide suggestions. Hotel staff were generally polite and professional as well. But these few positive experiences were overshadowed by the overall negativity and hostility we faced.
To add to it, we noticed sarcasm and judgment from some locals when observing tourists, especially larger Indian family groups. It left us feeling unwelcome and stereotyped. Thailand, in our view, is heavily overrated. What is often marketed as a warm and hospitable country fell short in almost every way during our visit.
Compared to the friendliness and helpfulness we’ve experienced in other countries, including the UAE and across Europe, Thailand was deeply disappointing. As Indians, we often go out of our way to assist tourists in our country, and I wish we had received even a fraction of that hospitality during this trip.
This experience was a reminder that a country’s appeal isn’t just in its landscapes or temples its in its people. Sadly, this trip left us disheartened and unlikely to recommend Thailand as a destination to others.