Indian tourists have mass brawl with parasail operators in Thailand

This is the chaotic moment Indian tourists had a mass brawl with parasail operators over unpaid fees in Thailand.

The holidaymakers went parasailing at the Karon Beach in Phuket on August 12 but reportedly refused to pay the agreed fee of 2,000 THB (44 GBP) after they were done.

Frustrated vendors recorded the tourists arguing about the bill but one of the Indian men is said to have flashed a middle finger and tried to slap the phone away, sparking the mass brawl.

Footage shows the Thai natives and the visitors in a heated argument before exchanging blows on the beach.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wivat Chamnankit, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation of the Karon Police Station, said police arrived at the scene on August 12 to investigate.

Parasail operator Channon Thaweesaman, 30, told officers: 'We had already agreed on the price of 2,000 baht earlier.

Before they went on the parasail, we tried to collect the fee but they said they did not have enough cash and would pay in full afterwards.

But after the tourists finished parasailing, they came down and refused to pay because they said the ride was too short.'

He added that he started recording to warn other parasail operators in the area about the group.

The tourists - four men, two women, and a child - reportedly left the beach on a car and did not face legal action.

Meanwhile, police warned local operators to be vigilant.

The fight comes as government chiefs continue to woo holiday makers from the subcontinent, which they believe is the next source of revenue to support the estimated 20 per cent of GDP that comes from tourism.

Earlier this year they introduced a visa waiver for India.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) boss Thapanee Kiatphaibool said that a record high 2.4 million India holidaymakers are expected to arrive this year.

Under the policy, Indian nationals are granted a 60-day visa-free stay. The programme will last until November 2024 and if successful, will be rolled out to citizens of 93 other countries.

Suksit Suvunditkul, President of the Southern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, said that Indian tourists remain among the top three markets for Thai island destination Phuket.