'No defecating in public': Thailand issues etiquette guidelines for Chinese tourists

Drying underwear at a temple and defecating in public, kicking a bell at a sacred shrine and washing feet in a public restroom: that's just a sample of complaints about the behaviour of tourists from China in Thailand.

Public outrage forced the Thai government to issue thousands of Chinese-language etiquette manuals last month in an effort to ensure the sightseers behave.

Feathers were ruffled anew in March when a Thai model posted a video on Facebook accusing tourists from China of jumping the queue at an airport, prompting heated debate from Thai and Chinese bloggers.

But with Thailand struggling to revive a stagnant economy after a military coup ended months of political unrest last year, tour operators in the "Land of Smiles" say they have no choice but to grin and bear it.

Tourism accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the country's economic output and Chinese holidaymakers are Thailand's largest group of overseas visitors.

It is not just mainland tourists Thailand is wooing: China is a top trading partner. The government has sought to strengthen ties with Beijing since some Western countries downgraded diplomatic ties when the military seized power last year.

Raising revenue from tourism is a government priority to compensate for weak exports, said Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the country's deputy government spokesman.