Thailand's 'Take Back Thailand' protests expose foreign ownership backlash on Koh Phangan

October 5, 2026 at 06:35 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Protests under the slogan 'Take Back Thailand' have erupted across Thailand, driven by local resentment over foreign-run businesses and land ownership on tourist islands like Koh Phangan. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's government has responded with a crackdown known as the 'Phangan model', which has expanded into seven provinces and led to more than 110 arrests. The backlash has been fuelled by viral incidents involving disrespectful tourists, including an Italian group filmed shouting at a Thai woman on a Bangkok sky train.

Key Facts

Koh Phangan, with fewer than 10,000 residents, welcomes over one million overseas visitors annually.
The 'Phangan model' crackdown has expanded into seven provinces and led to more than 110 arrests and dozens of warrants.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's conservative party was elected in February on a Thailand-first platform.
Israelis now make up the largest share of tourists on Koh Phangan.

Foreign Ownership Backlash

Locals on Koh Phangan say a surge in internationally run businesses and land ownership is reshaping the island beyond recognition. Preecha Thongyad, a Koh Phangan-born real estate investor, pointed to clusters of new villas on the hillside and said, 'All the projects we see up on the hillside belong to foreigners.' Protests under the slogan 'Take Back Thailand' have sprung up in recent months from the southern islands to Bangkok. The resentment is entangled with mounting exasperation toward visitors perceived as disrespectful, fuelled by viral social media examples.

Government Crackdown

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has cast serious concerns about overseas influence, framing it as a threat to national and economic security. His government has overseen a widespread operation examining thousands of businesses with dubious foreign-Thai ownership structures. The crackdown, known as the 'Phangan model', has expanded into seven provinces and led to more than 110 arrests and dozens of warrants.

Tourist Incidents

Italian tourists were filmed shouting at a Thai woman on a sky train in Bangkok, sparking outrage. A video of an Israeli woman telling staff at a cafe that 'my money built your country' also went viral. On Koh Phangan, Israelis now make up the largest share of tourists, and their rising numbers have been matched with intense scrutiny amid global anger over the war in Gaza.