A violent brawl involving foreign tourists on Bangla Road in Patong, Phuket, sparked alarm over the safety of visitors and the province's reputation as a top holiday destination.
A video of the brawl late on Sunday night was posted on Facebook.
It showed a group of foreign men repeatedly kicking and punching another man until he fell to the ground. The assailants then kicked him about the head as he lay on the ground, and other people just stood there and watched.
Eventually, other tourists intervened and stopped the assault.
The reason for the attack was initially not known but the video went viral, drawing fierce criticism online.
Local residents said such violence damages Phuket’s image as a safe destination.
Police later said the victim was a bar owner who had argued with a foreign man over parking at an Isan café around 9.30pm. The foreigner left and returned 10 minutes later with three companions, who allegedly attacked the victim.
The injured man was taken to hospital and police have launched legal proceedings against the four suspects.
