There was a noticeable hesitation in the way I was received, likely shaped by assumptions formed from previous encounters. While the service improved once I was seated and had ordered, first impressions matter, and they set the tone.
I tip based on how I’m welcomed and treated, not out of habit. In this case, I chose not to. Thailand’s tourism industry has clearly been impacted by repeated negative behaviour from certain visitor groups, but allowing those experiences to harden into blanket judgments only creates unfair and diminished experiences for others who don’t deserve it.
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