The incident occurred in front of Salaloy Restaurant in Rawai, and was brought to public attention by Facebook user Pananart Atsawaphitakchon, who posted a photo showing a woman squatting behind a Naga statue at the entrance of the restaurant. According to the post, the woman walked away without cleaning up afterward.
“This is the second time this month that someone has defecated here,” Pananart wrote, referring to a similar incident that happened on Thursday (May 22) ‒ also a day the shop was closed.
While the restaurant allows passersby to use its restroom when open, the recurring problem highlights what Pananart described as Thailand’s lack of preparation to manage the negative impacts of tourism.
“We’ve discussed charging a small fee for restroom use to help cover costs like cleaning supplies and water, but we’ve tried to absorb those costs because we understand that tourists bring income to the country,” the post continued.
Despite their efforts to be accommodating, the shop has repeatedly faced the unpleasant task of cleaning up human waste left behind by visitors. “I don’t know if other business owners are facing this too, but I’d like the authorities to help address this small, yet very real, issue,” Pananart said.
The post has since gained attention online, sparking debate about tourist behaviour and the need for better public facilities in high-traffic areas.