A tourist was spotted playfully sitting on the front of a boat like a pirate on a Thai island.

Footage shows the holidaymaker resting while rocking back and forth, resembling riding a horse, on the traditional longboat on Phi Phi Island in Krabi, Thailand, on January 22.

He can be seen holding colourful scarves tied to the boat while the watercraft heads toward the shore.

However, the playful adventure upset some of the locals, who said the tourist was being insensitive to local customs.

In Thai culture, it is generally considered disrespectful to sit on the front of a traditional longtail boat. The front of the boat is often decorated with garlands, flowers, and colored scarves as a sign of respect to the water spirits and Mae Yanang, the spiritual goddess of journeys.

Sitting in this area is seen as encroaching on sacred space.