Outrage as Tourists Caught Smoking and Drinking at Phi Phi Island

KRABI — A video showing foreign tourists smoking and drinking alcohol in the waters off Phi Phi Island has sparked public outrage and prompted an official investigation.

The footage, posted by the Facebook page Hod Jung Changwat Phuket (also known as Brutal Phuket), shows a group of male and female tourists playing in the sea while holding lit cigarettes and open cans of beer. The scene, believed to have been filmed near Pileh Bay, drew heavy criticism online, with many social media users questioning why tour guides failed to intervene.

Most of the public anger was directed at the boat operators and trip facilitators, with calls for strict punitive action against them.

Saengsuri Songthong, chief of the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, confirmed on Saturday that authorities are taking the incident seriously. An investigation has been launched, with initial findings suggesting the tourists involved were Russian nationals who had hired a private boat.

Boat operators face a 5,000-baht fine for bringing alcoholic beverages into the national park zone and have received a formal warning.

Mr. Saengsuri stressed that maintaining cleanliness and order in the park is a top priority and vowed that violations would not be tolerated.

The controversy comes just a week after the dismissal of environmental activist Siranudh “Psi” Scott from his advisory role at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. His confrontational methods of addressing tourist misconduct had drawn both praise and criticism.