PHUKET, THAILAND – A dispute at Mai Khao Beach involving a foreign couple and a Thai-Italian YouTuber over filming in a public area triggered a wave of online discussion about respect and behaviour in shared spaces.
Incident at Mai Khao Beach: What happened
Thai travel blogger and actress Nawinda “Mint” Bertotti showed the encounter in a vlog on her YouTube channel PakMuddchannel, published on Saturday, 18 April.
While Mint was speaking to the camera at Mai Khao Beach, a foreign woman approached her together with her male companion and asked her to move away.
The video captured the moment the pair came into frame as Mint continued filming. The exchange quickly became the focus of viewer attention once the vlog went online.
“Move out of our area”: the exchange on video
According to the footage, the woman said,
“Move out of our area”
said the foreign woman, tourist.
Mint replied,
“It’s your area? I thought it’s public space”
said Nawinda “Mint” Bertotti, travel vlogger and actress.
After the brief dialogue, Mint left the spot while the camera kept rolling. The continuous recording allowed viewers to follow the situation from her perspective.
Why the location was so popular
Mai Khao Beach was particularly well known among foreign tourists for plane-spotting photo shoots. Visitors frequently took pictures of aircraft on final approach passing very close overhead.
At such hotspots, several groups with cameras often gathered in a relatively small area. This increased the chance of misunderstandings about framing and perceived “claims” to specific spots on the sand.
Mint’s view: public space and shared use
After the encounter, Mint told her viewers that the beach was a public space. She said that in Thailand, people were used to sharing such places, including among content creators.
She added that she had experienced similar shared use of public areas while travelling in China. Her remarks framed the incident as part of a broader question of how creators and tourists shared popular locations.
Team reaction: “Chased away from my home”
In the background of the recording, a team member was heard speaking off camera:
“I don’t know what to do. Feeling like being chased away from my home.”
said Mint’s team member, production staff.
For many viewers, this comment reinforced the impression that the couple’s request went beyond making space for a single photograph. They felt it sounded like a more general attempt to send the group away from the area.
Divided opinions online: access rights vs. tone
Some Thai netizens sided with Mint, stressing that public places in Thailand should remain open to everyone. They argued that no one should be told to leave in that manner.
Others pointed out that the beach was in principle open to all visitors regardless of nationality. In their view, conflicts at such spots tended to arise from behaviour and tone rather than where people came from.
Alternative view: just space for a photo?
Several users suggested the foreign couple might not have intended to claim ownership of the location. They speculated the pair had simply asked Mint to step aside briefly for a planned photo.
Other commentators guessed that Mint might have stepped into the couple’s frame. They urged all visitors to pay attention to one another in shared public spaces like popular photo spots, in order to avoid unnecessary disputes.
Your view
The incident raised broader questions for online audiences. Some asked whether the couple’s behaviour was overbearing, or whether it was normal to request a little space for a picture.
Commenters also discussed what rules of consideration should apply at Thailand’s most photographed locations. Many focused on how clear communication and mutual respect could help prevent similar conflicts in the future.