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Thailand Boutique Hotel Sparks Outrage After Labeling Israelis ‘Not Recommended’

Jul 29, 2026·1 min read

A boutique hotel on Thailand’s Koh Phangan island has come under fire after displaying a message on its Booking.com listing stating that Israeli guests are “not recommended,” prompting an investigation by the booking platform into possible discrimination.

The controversy centers on the Shanti Boutique Hotel in the Srithanu area, a destination that has long been popular with Israeli travelers. Despite the backlash, the hotel maintains strong customer ratings, earning an 8.6 score on Booking.com and a 4.8 rating on Google.

The message, written in red across several photos in the hotel’s online gallery, read: “Not recommended for Israeli guests.” It appeared on images of the property’s swimming pool, guest rooms, and other areas throughout the hotel.

The notice appears to conflict with Booking.com’s policies, which prohibit participating properties from refusing reservations or imposing different conditions on guests based on nationality or other protected characteristics.

Booking.com told Ynet that it has launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter following inquiries about the listing. As of now, the hotel has not issued a public response.