A confrontation between a group of Italian teenagers and a Thai woman on a Bangkok train sparked an online controversy and led to an apology from the Italian embassy in Thailand. The incident, captured in a video posted on TikTok last Friday, quickly went viral with over 28,000 shares and drew widespread attention on social media platforms.
The footage features a Thai woman off-camera repeatedly asking the noisy group to quiet down, stating, "In Thailand, we don’t scream." A female member of the Italian group responds sarcastically, saying, "Sorry for bringing money to your country." Tensions escalated as the woman accused the teens of lacking manners, with both sides exchanging vulgar language and gestures. One of the boys is seen waving and making an obscene gesture toward the camera.
Reactions to the clip have been mixed. Some social media users criticized the teenagers for disrespecting local customs and behaving inappropriately in a public setting. Others argued that the Thai woman’s response was unnecessarily harsh, contributing to the dispute’s escalation.
In response, the Italian embassy in Bangkok condemned the actions of the group, describing their behaviour as “inappropriate” for underage tourists on a school trip. The embassy issued a formal apology to the people of Thailand and all those affected by the incident. Emphasizing the importance Italians place on respect and courtesy, the embassy underlined their appreciation for Thai cultural values.
Additionally, the embassy shared a video featuring three adults identified as supervisors of the group, along with the teenager filmed, all of whom apologized for the incident. One adult stated that the boy involved would be sent back to Italy as soon as possible due to his conduct.
The TikTok user who originally posted the footage did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident occurred amid ongoing adjustments to Thailand’s visa policies. In May, the government shortened visa-free stays for tourists as part of broader efforts to reduce crimes linked to foreign nationals. These adjustments followed several high-profile arrests involving foreigners on charges including drug offences, sex trafficking, public indecency, and operating unlicensed businesses.
Thailand’s tourism sector remains a vital component of the economy but has not fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Official statistics indicate that total tourist arrivals declined over 3% in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2025, with visitors from Italy decreasing by approximately 9.6%.