A family of six Russian tourists were safely brought ashore in Pattaya on Sunday night by Thai tourist police, after they were abandoned on Sak Island, by a boat service operator.

The group of four adults and two children left for the island by boat, provided by a boat service company located on Bali Hai Beach, at about 11am. The boat was supposed to bring them back to the shore in Pattaya at about 5pm, but it did not show up.

One of the group told the Pattaya tourist police that, while the island is very scenic, the boat service was very disappointing and the incident will hurt the Thai tourism industry.

He said that they went to the pick-up point on the island before 5pm and waited until dark, but the boat did not arrive, adding that they were concerned about their safety in the dark.

They went to see the man tasked with looking after the private island who, in turn, sought help from Pattaya police. A boat was sent to pick up the abandoned tourists and they were taken back to their hotel.

One tourist police officer admitted that there had been several incidents of boat service providers abandoning their customers who travelled to the islands of Sak and Lan, off Pattaya.

The policeman said they would invite the boat service operator in for questioning.