Phuket Tourist Allegedly Refuses 40 Baht Ride Fare and Walks Away After Dispute

A video circulating on Thai social media shows a foreign tourist sticking out his tongue at a motorcycle rider during a dispute over a 40-baht fare for a ride booked through a ride-hailing app.

According to the Facebook post that shared the footage, the rider completed the trip and took the passenger to his destination as usual. However, when it was time to pay, the tourist allegedly refused to hand over the fare.

The post claims that the rider spent about an hour trying to persuade the passenger to pay and discussing the matter with him. The dispute eventually ended with the tourist walking away without paying.

Thai subtitles added to the video contain profanity directed at the tourist, including a line questioning what he intended to do over a fare of just 40 baht. At one point, the passenger is seen sticking out his tongue at the rider. Another part of the footage shows the tourist walking down the street while the rider remains behind.

The man was not identified in the social media post, and the motorcycle rider was also not named. It was not clear whether the rider had reported the incident to police. The post also did not specify which ride-hailing application was used or when the trip took place.

According to the post’s author, the footage prompted an angry reaction from Thai social media users and some Phuket residents. The author argued that while 40 baht might seem insignificant to a tourist, the amount can help a motorcycle rider pay for fuel or a meal.

The incident comes amid wider discussion in Phuket about tourist behaviour. In August, the Protect Phuket residents’ group asked Patong police for permission to hold a demonstration calling on tourists to follow Thai laws and respect local rules.