Police in Thailand are hunting four French tourists for allegedly attacking a cafe owner then fleeing.

The alleged assault stemmed from a parking dispute when shop owner Arnan Jundai, 34, asked a Frenchman to move his motorcycle blocking the entrance of the E-san Cafe in Phuket.

The indignant French rider stormed off on his two-wheeler, but later returned with three of his friends allegedly to gang up on Arnan.

CCTV footage shows the holiday maker in a white shirt approaching Arnan before they came to blows, sparking alarm among shocked customers. Another man in pink was seen hitting Arnan from behind.

When Thai bystanders intervened, the four tourists fled the scene, leaving Arnan injured.

Police Colonel Korakrit Khantakrua, the superintendent of Patong district station, said: ‘The victim was at E-san Cafe when he argued with a foreign man, whose name and surname are unknown, over a parking issue.

‘The foreign man then rode his motorcycle out of the shop premises.

‘After about 10 minutes, the same foreign man returned with his friends in a group of four and assaulted the victim, causing injuries.

‘Police sent the victim to the hospital for treatment, and he has filed a report to press charges against the four foreign men for assault.'

Arnan said he politely told the suspect to move his motorcycle, as he had been occupying a parking slot reserved for cafe customers only.

He said: 'This wasn't the first time it's happened. I tried to explain calmly that the parking space was for my shop's customers, but the tourists refused to listen. They became abusive and started swearing and speaking in their own language, and even called their friends over.'

He urged police to bring the Frenchmen to justice as he said they showed a lack of respect for the locals.

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.

It has become one of Asia's most popular destinations, with an estimated 14 million visitors in 2025 - almost half of the total number visiting the country.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the top five markets were Russia, China, India, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

However, angry locals claim the push for tourist dollars has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors. 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.

Phuket officials said they are implementing tighter immigration controls and screening processes amid a wave of drug-related crimes and illegal activities on the island.