Hundreds of tourists joined the controversial 'tipsy tubing' attraction - floating down a river while guzzling booze.

Footage shows a large crowd of holidaymakers floating on inflatables along the Pai River in Mae Hong Son province, northern Thailand, on March 28.

Workers in hi-vis vests were seen directing traffic on the waterway while splashing the amused backpackers with river water.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Mae Hong Son said it had warned against drinking booze while tubing last year amid safety concerns. The organisation repeated the warnings again in March after seeing a surge of tourists flocking to the attraction again this year as the travel industry restarts.

Police Lieutenant General Sukhun Prommayon, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, visited the popular tubing spot on March 28 to check that safety guidelines were being followed.

Tour operators have been asked to refrain from selling alcohol at tubing areas and they must also buy accident insurance, and maintain security with one lifeguard per 12 tubers, TAT had said.

The operator told reporters there were around 480 tourists, mostly foreigners, who had visited the Pai river for tubing that day.

The activity is only allowed from November to May during the dry season when the water is lowest at around waist-deep. It becomes deeper and more dangerous when monsoons start in the rainy season in June.

Health and safety regulations are still undeveloped in Thailand and other developing countries in Southeast Asia.