The visas of foreigners who threatened the life of a private-zoo owner on Koh Samui have been revoked, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Tuesday.
Mr Surasak said the owner of Samui Exotic Park's life was endangered by the threats. The cancellation of visitors' visas was among the decisive measures being taken against visitors causing problems in Thailand.
"The government places importance on problems involving foreign tourists, including recent conflicts. The prime minister has instructed provincial authorities, tourist police and regional police to swiftly and decisively tackle these issues," he said.
The minister did not name the people whose visas were revoked, or say how many of them or their nationalities.
A recent conflict at the zoo involved an Israeli man, known only as Jacob, who resides on the resort island.
The Koh Samui Provincial Court on Thursday fined him 5,000 baht for making a threat against the life of zoo owner Jindarat Sattayapun and her family in a Facebook post, after an Israeli family was barred from entering the zoo on Aug 12.
Ms Jindarat registered a complaint with police.
The court suspended the fine for two years and ordered him to respect Thai laws.
Ms Jindarat has said the zoo decided to deny entry to Israeli visitors because they acted improperly and ignored zoo rules, including taking purchased animal feed from the baskets of other visitors.
