Pattaya Police Checkpoints Go Digital

[Jai Dee]

PATTAYA CHECKPOINTS GOING DIGITAL

Pattaya police officials are going-digital as they are using the latest information technology in their operations, and this technology will be able to facilitate the works between the government and the public sectors. This technology is being used in only 15 destinations throughout the world.

Meanwhile, Police General Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai (อิทธิพล อิทธิสารรณชัย), the checkpoint administrator in Pattaya, said this is an effort which is in accordance to the government policy of improving the officials’ work performances, especially the works that relate to services. And this is the reason why the Pattaya checkpoint authority has bring in this IT network, as it can link up different information between tourism operators and government officials. The information being recorded can include the accommodation rates and reservation statuses, photographs, passport data and tourists’ records. As a result, this technology would enable officials to gather any required information immediately and accurately.

In addition, checkpoint police in Pattaya also facilitate tourists by offering a new service where tourists can send their travelling documents via internet. Usually, tourists require 30 minutes to about an hour to complete the application process, which is very time consuming. However, the new system will only take no more five to ten minutes. The system is expected to be unveiled next month, in which tourists can visit the website of Pattaya and fill in their applications.

In the near future, the checkpoints in Pattaya will offer Visa-online service to travellers, and this service will considerably facilitate the customers.

The local officers will also launch a project entitled “Good Service, Good Smile”. It is a project aimed at promoting positive working ambience for the officials, and thus, they would then be able to provide a much greater customer satisfaction in the end.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 January 2006

[astral]

Did I miss something here?

Why would a tourist want to send their passport data and photograph to the police in Pattaya?

What exactly are they applying for?

I can find hotel rates and make reservations on line without involving the police.

Is this a new way for them to shake down the hotels for commission?

I have not seen much co-operation between the ordinary police and Immigration so the visa online, good as it sounds, is a bit far fetched. Nor can I see the embassies giving up the income from visas without a struggle.

It is not surprising that so few places have such a system.

Right wing dictatorships, I should imagine! or perhaps the paranoid US of A

Edited January 19, 2006 by astral

[raro]

Did I get this right? Pattaya police not only gatheres data on where tourists are staying (which is immigration duty already) but also about the room rates? errrmmm....although the whole article was some sort of mumbo-jumbo, it sounds a bit scary...re-read it for a third time...what 30 minutes application process? Did I miss something?

[astral]

Perhaps this wild rambling report makes a little more sense now, having read

this thread.

I think they are talking about the Immigration office in Pattaya and the

Immigration police...............

No wonder the country is in mess, if this is the way government officials disseminate information.

Clear and concise should be the watch words.

You have to assume the reader knows nothing.

Ah well. TIT

[Emuu]

It's so nice to know that paranoia is still allive and well in Pattaya

[monty]

A friend of mine working at the new immgration office in Jomtien told me they are working to streamline applications for most extensions mainly.

You submit your request for a 30 day extension on-line, immigration will check it out over-night and you just pick up your extension a day later. In and out the building in less then 10 minutes, just give the passport and 1900 Baht and they'll immediately stamp the extension and out you walk...

The 90 day reporting will be possible as well on-line, without the need to show up at immigration at all!

Not really a big brother scenario, more an attempt to streamline services toward tourists / expats.

[wallacern]

do people in thailand know what digital means?

[Noel]

do people in thailand know what digital means?

I have tried to educate many Thai drivers in Pattaya by showing them a single digit, but the standard of driving fails to improve...

[eljeque]

I thought I understood some of this article to mean that the Police or Immigration police would be able to know where the tourist was staying from his passport details. This would require all of the hotels to input the data daily. This would help if a tourist was hit by a car and the police wanted to know where his personal details were, but I do not see a lot of other reasons.

Did I not get this?

[hughden]

do people in thailand know what digital means?

From my experience, yes they do. I worked for 5 years in BKK with an information technology department of a multinational company. All Thai, and they were technically equal to any farang and worked a lot harder too; and more fun to work with! There are some very tech-aware people here; and some who don't have a clue; just like any other country.