Thai temple BANS Chinese tourists for defecating on toilets and dropping used loo roll
A THAI temple banned Chinese tourists after staff found they had defecated in an ornate golden building and dropped used loo roll in water tanks.
Chinese tourists were banned for making a mess in the Golden Toilet at the Wat Rong Khun temple
Chalermchai Kositpipat, who owns the White Temple in Chiang Rai, ordered staff to block visitors from the country after a woman used the toilet, didn't flush and then threw soiled loo paper into a water tank.
The visitor was ordered to clean up the mess but refused and left, according to local media reports. The incident on February 3 was the final straw after a series of inappropriate toilet uses – including visitors defecating on the seats.
But he lifted the ban after just half a day when disappointed Chinese tourists complained - on the condition that tour guides clean the toilets if their clients make a mess.
The temple's toilets are in an ornate golden building which is a popular photo spot for visitors.
"The ban and the warning were necessary," a staff member said. "Otherwise it would happen again."
Locals suggested that tourists should have to pay a deposit before visiting, with penalties applied for uncivilised behaviour.
They also condemned visitors who climbed Chiang Mai's old city wall – where many believe that ancestral spirits reside – while wearing improper clothing.
The grand building, which is known locally as Wat Rong Khun, was opened to visitors in 1997 and is built in the style of a Buddhist temple.
Kositpipat spent £800,000 of his own money renovating the dilapidated building at the end of the 20th century because no funding was available.