A shirtless drunk tourist wandering along a busy road sparked concern in the red-light district of Phuket.

Footage shows the man strolling aimlessly down the middle of Patak Road in Karon Subdistrict, near the Makro intersection, as vehicles carefully swerved to avoid him.

Locals said the holidaymaker, believed to be French, appeared heavily intoxicated on Wednesday, October 22.

The driver who recorded the video told local media that the man had fallen on hard times.

He said: 'He often walks around the Nai Harn and Saiyuan areas all day. He's harmless but seems mentally unstable and usually talks to himself. People feel sorry for him.'

Residents said they had already contacted the police to check on his condition and ensure his safety, as he had been spotted several times walking in traffic lanes.

Another local added: 'Sometimes when motorcycle riders get too close, it's scary. If someone tries to talk to him, he just glares at them and walks off.

'As he keeps wandering around, we're afraid he might get hit by a car. It's the Vegetarian Festival now, and there are parades, so we're worried he might walk into one and cause trouble.'

The once-pristine island of Phuket has been marred by over-tourism as the Thai government implements a visa-free scheme to boost revenue following the barren pandemic years.

Angry locals claim the push for tourist dollars has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors from Russia, India and Australia.

There are also fears that the island has become an enclave of criminal activity, with police unable to control street fights and more organised ruffians setting up rackets among local businesses.