BANGKOK, Thailand – An Italian man living in Thailand has spoken out after a viral incident involving a group of foreign tourists behaving disruptively on a Bangkok BTS train, saying the video was “very embarrassing” and reminding visitors that they represent their home countries when travelling abroad.
The comments followed a widely shared TikTok video showing a group of foreign tourists making excessive noise on a BTS train. After another passenger asked them to be quieter, members of the group allegedly responded with insults, mocked the passenger by saying, “Sorry for bringing money to your country,” made obscene gestures, and continued their disruptive behavior.
Reacting to the controversy, Italian resident Edo, who lives in Thailand with his Thai wife and runs the Facebook page Edo Eats Wrong, said many people had sent him the clip. “I’ll be honest—it was embarrassing,” he wrote. “When you travel abroad, you don’t just represent yourself. Whether you like it or not, you also represent your country.”
He said Thailand had welcomed him with kindness, opportunities, and made him feel at home, adding that the least visitors can do is respect local laws, culture, and the people. “Being a tourist doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want,” he wrote, expressing hope that the actions of a few individuals would not cause Thais to judge all Italians in the same way. His comments have been widely praised online, with many social media users thanking him for encouraging respectful tourism and cultural understanding.
The controversy has continued to grow after a Facebook page shared photos claiming the same group of Italian students later caused another disturbance inside a B2S store. The page said the incident is still awaiting verification and urged authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly to ensure fairness to everyone involved. No official confirmation has yet been released regarding the claim.
