Tourist Police face AEC 2015 challenges

Thailand’s Tourist Police Division will need to increase its ability work more closely with related authorities in a lead up of the unified market in ASEAN in 2015, accordingto Police General Wut Liptapanlop. The establishment of the ASEAN Community comprises of three pillars namely ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), ASEAN Security Community (ASC), and ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which tourism is included in this category. “The single market will attract more tourists as well as criminals who will enter the country as tourists so we will need to tighten safety and security measures.” In addition, the tourist polices will need to figure out measures to tackle extortion and scams and provide security for tourists. “Besides criminal law, we will use taxation law to crack down on local operators conducting unfair prices and practices against tourists.” The tourist police need to develop human resources and establish better work systems such as: • Increase English skills to be able to communicate with tourists fluently; • Apply the Act of Tourism and Guide Registration 2008 and related acts to ensure the division has the correct information on tourists; • Collaborate more with other police divisions particularly the Immigration Bureau and associations in the tourism private sector.