- In Patong, Phuket, tourists obstructed traffic and sprayed water on vehicles during Songkran celebrations
- Seven French tourists were arrested for causing a public nuisance and fined by local police
- Songkran rules prohibit forcing water on unwilling people and blocking roads, with fines up to 60,000 baht
Thailand's Songkran festival, which marks the traditional Thai New Year, is one of the country's most anticipated annual celebrations. Officially observed on April 13, the holiday typically extends through April 15. From Bangkok and Phuket to Pattaya and Chiang Mai, Songkran is widely known for its playful water-splashing tradition, symbolising the washing away of bad luck and misfortune. Streets are often lined with revellers armed with water guns and buckets, and tourists frequently join locals in the spirited festivities.
However, authorities in Phuket were forced to intervene this week after a group of foreign tourists crossed the line between celebration and public disruption. Videos of the incident, filmed during Songkran celebrations in Patong, have since gone viral on social media.
According to local police, the Patong Police Radio Centre received a complaint on April 12, 2026, about a group of tourists engaging in water play on Prachanukhro Road in a manner that obstructed traffic and disturbed other road users. Officers who arrived at the scene found several foreign nationals blocking the roadway while spraying water at passing vehicles, reported The Nation Thailand.
Police said the group was instructed to disperse and stop the activity, but some individuals refused to comply with the warnings. Officers subsequently arrested seven French tourists on charges of causing a public nuisance. The tourists were taken into custody, fined, and formally warned not to repeat the offence.
According to the "10 hard-and-fast Songkran 2026 rules", participants should not force water on people who are trying to avoid getting wet or those on their way to work. The penalty is a fine of up to 60,000 baht (Rs 1,75,124).
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Following the arrests, Patong police also issued advisories to shop owners and residents along Prachanukhro Road, asking them not to place water barrels on public roads or engage in water play that could disrupt traffic or endanger others during the festival period.
While Songkran encourages participation and joyful expression, authorities have reiterated that public safety and order must be maintained, particularly on busy roads.
Local police have reminded both residents and visitors that festival activities should not interfere with emergency services, operating vehicles or non-participating members of the public. Actions that go beyond the spirit of the festival, officials warned, could result in fines or arrest.
The incident has sparked discussion online, with many Thai nationals and residents emphasising the importance of respecting local laws and customs during cultural celebrations.
An X user wrote, "Why do trashy tourists ruin everything? Don't come to Thailand if you're not going to respect the locals during their annual festival. Opening his car door and soaking his van is property damage."
Another chimed in, Songkran never disappoints. Tourists arrested in Patong after deliberately blasting police with high-pressure water guns. Police say it went beyond festival fun and could have caused injury."
An angry viewer added, "The bad behaviour of foreigners in Phuket (especially those from countries that can now enter visa-free) is becoming increasingly conspicuous, but even during Songkran, they're shooting water at police stations or dousing the insides of operating vans that aren't even participating in the water fights, thinking "anything goes" in Thailand is a huge mistake, got that?"
