Thai tourist police launched new mobile technology on the eve of the tourist-jammed  traditional Thai new year, better known as the Songkran festival.

The tourist police launched the Tourist Buddy Application, a smart-phone friendly free application providing travel information and safety tips. It also enables travellers to directly access to police stations nationwide, as well as emergency call centres.

For emergency services, the Hotline 1155 is available around the clock. More importantly, the innovative smartphone application also allows the authorities to locate where the calls are being made from.

“This app acts like your Buddy. When you are lost or need to find travel places, you can use this app for searching,” read the free application’s download page.

Thailand’s Tourist Police have embarked on a major campaign to improve their image and their services for tourists by launching one of the country’s most innovative virtual applications. The “Tourist Buddy” initiative will ensure 24 hour assistance for its users along with a better standard of help for those in need.

Tourist numbers will increase sharply during this event,” said the creator of the application, Pol.Maj.Gen. Roy Inkapairoj, Commander of the Tourist Police Division. “We realise the need to provide efficient services in all aspects to tourists”.

“Tourism is Thailand’s number one revenue earner and it’s the Government’s goal to increase tourism revenue income to 2 Trillion Baht by 2015.”

To ensure the safety of tourists, he adds, the Tourist Buddy Application will provide a new method for tourists to get assistance, anytime. It will also go a long way in supporting promotion for the nation’s tourism, culture, traditions and festivals.

“The nation’s Tourist Police realise the importance of providing care, help and comfort for tourists along with a prompt response to any situation that may require assistance”.

Pol.Maj.Gen Roy Inkapairoj hopes that the introduction of the Tourist Buddy will help deliver a high level of service and safety for tourists who come to visit Thailand, but somehow end up in difficulty.

The Tourist Police Division is overseen by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Royal Thai Police. Their mission is to give service, convenience, life safety and asset protection to tourists who visit Thailand as well as to Thailand’s domestic tourists. This includes protection against crime that impacts on the nation’s tourism image, industry and tourist providers.

“This initiative will also increase tourist confidence in Thailand,” adds Pol.Maj.Gen Roy.