Pai: Secretary of the Interior Ministry 1 has refuted claims that "Jews" have seized Pai, describing it as fake news detrimental to tourism. Business operators have reported income losses, while Israeli tourists have also rejected the claims as unfounded.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Traisuree Traisaranakul, Secretary to the Minister of Interior, visited Pai District in Mae Hong Son Province to assess the impact of the false reports. Her visit precedes that of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, who is scheduled to visit to reassure both tourists and locals. The false reports claimed that Israeli tourists in Pai were causing disturbances, including theft, which led to signs indicating Israelis were not welcome.
Ms. Traisuree observed the tubing activities along the Pai River, a popular tourist attraction, and emphasized the British as the predominant tourist group in the area. The number of tourists participating in tubing activities has fallen from 500-600 to about 200-300 due to the misleading news.
Mr. Chaiwich Sammachiwath, Vice President of the Pai Tourism Business Association, stated that the fake news has led to a decline in tourist confidence. He urged that Pai District remains welcoming to tourists and attributed the false reports to dissatisfied individuals. The tourism sector is vital to the local economy, with last year's revenue reaching over 7 billion baht from tourist hotspots in the region.
Mr. Chaiwich also dismissed rumors about prohibiting Thais from entering churches, attributing them to provocations on social media. He called for more dialogue to address these unfounded fears and reiterated the importance of tourism to Pai's economy.
Israeli tourist Mr. Noam Moualmi described the allegations as ridiculous and harmful. He emphasized that Israeli visitors come to Pai for its peaceful ambiance, cultural experiences, and natural beauty, rejecting any notion of an Israeli occupation as fake news.