Tempers flared on a Filipino holiday island, which is closing for six months, when two tourists fought over who would get the last spot on a sailboat.

The Chinese and South Korean men began brawling on the beach in Boracay Island, which will close for six months due to the overload of tourists.

Onlookers said the two men were jostling for the last place on a sailboat known locally as a “paraw.”

The dispute happened on April 12 just days after President Rodrigo Duterte branded the island a “cesspool” and ordered the closure to start on April 26.

“This is exactly the kind of reason the island is being closed,” onlooker Maria Gerdez said. “Too many people and too much overcrowding causing problems.”

''It was strange to see two grown men fighting over something so silly,” Gerdez added. “They were behaving like juveniles.”

Tempers flared on this Filipino holiday island which is closing for six months - when two holidaymakers started fighting over who got to take a sailboat ride.

The Chinese and South Korean men began brawling on the beach in Boracay Island - which is being closed for six month due to chronic ''over tourism'' turning the resort into ''cesspool''.

Onlookers said the two men were jostling for the last place on a sailboat locally known as 'paraw'.

They were filmed rolling around in the surf before half-a-dozen men stepped in to pull them apart.

The dispute happened on April 12 just days after President Rodrigo Duterte branded the island a ''cesspool'' and ordered the closure to start on April 26.

Tensions were running high with many holidaymakers fearing they would not get to take part in certain activities before the island closed its doors.

Onlooker Maria Gerdez said: ''This is exactly the kind of reason the island is being closed. Too many people and too much over-crowding causing problems.

''It was strange to see two grown men fighting over something so silly. They were behaving like juveniles.

''The beach was very busy at the time, hundreds and thousands of people. I think that our president is doing the right thing to get control of the area again.''

The Department of Tourism (DOT) had announced that tourists who are already in Boracay before the closure can stay until the end of their booking.

It assured tourists that they will not be forced to leave the island. It, however, said booking extensions will not be allowed.