One of northern Thailand's most famous temples plans to build separate toilets for Thais and other non-Chinese tourists, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, in Chiang Rai will add the new toilets as a solution to complaints about the lack of bathroom etiquette by Chinese tourists, temple officials told DPA.
Previously, the temple had banned Chinese tourists altogether after Chinese tour groups had left the toilets in a state of disrepair.
"They had defecated on the floor, urinated on the walls outside and left sanitary pads on the wall of the bathrooms," said an official who requested anonymity.
The temple's designer, Chalermchai Kositpipat, said in a television interview that it was "impossible" for other tourists to use the bathrooms after the Chinese tours, so he would build new ones.
Reports of misbehaviour by Chinese tourists have become an increasing source of concern as their numbers swell. Last year, 4.62 million Chinese visited Thailand, accounting for 18.7% of all international arrivals, more than any other nationality.
In another recent incident, a tourist identified as a Chinese national kicked a bell at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. A video posted anonymously online drew widespread condemnation.
In the short film, the man first posed for a photo with a row of bells before kicking one of them while laughing as he left the sacred grounds.
Reports of tourists in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai relieving themselves in public have prompted further complaints.
In response, officials have come up with an etiquette manual in Chinese on how tourists should behave in Thailand.