Tourist Police release "Tourist Buddy" iOS/Android "safety" app

[bubba]

Thailand’s tourist police have launched a new mobile safety app for tourists aimed at improving tourists’ safety, as part of an aggressive campaign in attempt to improve their services as well as their image.

The Tourist Buddy Application is available on iPhone and Android smart phones and offers tourists safety tips as well as travel information and the ability to get in touch with any emergency call centre and police station within the country, offering a 1155 hotline number accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Check it out. The English in the "Cautions" section is abysmal, but good for a laugh. The app uses location services so that you can be located via GPS and requests you to enter all your personal information such as name, passport number etc. "for the purpose of safety, and communicating with tourist police for emergency case". Hmmm

http://asia.etbnews.com/225060/thailand-tourist-police-launch-safety-app/

[WhizBang]

I agree about the english. They really do need to get a native english speaker to rewrite the whole thing. Proofreading it wouldn't hurt too.

For example, the header under Cautions... "Guilds for buying goods and services"

Overall, seems pretty useless to me.

[bubba]

So WhizBang - did you enter all your personal information into the app so that they can locate you?

Maybe they should get together with Immigration. Who needs 90 day reports when they can constantly track you via GPS coordinate feedback? Or will the next crackdown make this app required practice?

[WhizBang]

So WhizBang - did you enter all your personal information into the app so that they can locate you?

Maybe they should get together with Immigration. Who needs 90 day reports when they can constantly track you via GPS coordinate feedback? Or will the next crackdown make this app required practice?

Well, since I have 'Location Services' turned off on all my phones, they couldn't track me even if they wanted (except by cell tower connections, of course),.

But, if being tracked by GPS got me a one year (or longer) entry stamp and no 90 day reporting, I might consider turning GPS on.

[Boycie]

This is old news, the 'Tourist Buddy' App was launched over 18 months ago.

[sapson]

What great news..............now the hapless jetski renter can rest assured that with the push of a button the tourist police will come rushing to his aid! and provide full assistance in negotiating the requested 60k baht non existent damage fee down to a more reasonable 30k baht and even provide an escort to the nearest atm.

Three cheers for the tourist police!!!!

[JAS21]

What great news..............now the hapless jetski renter can rest assured that with the push of a button the tourist police will come rushing to his aid! and provide full assistance in negotiating the requested 60k baht non existent damage fee down to a more reasonable 30k baht and even provide an escort to the nearest atm.

Three cheers for the tourist police!!!!

Sorry a bit off subject ... But ... I have just had a little walk around our village and one house has a Hummer parked outside and Three Jet skis ... I have never seen any of those there before ... maybe business has been good but now a little curtailed ............... good.

[bubba]

Here are a couple more gems of wisdom given in the "Cautions" advice section of the app:

Strip dances are against the law including anyone inviting you to see it. [Did you know that?]

Unwelcome persons or criminals might steal your valuables in the big luggage room while you ate sleeping, having meal, going to the rest room or even above your seat.

Avoid drugs and gambling. These things are illegal in Thailand. [bet you did not know that as well]

Do not believe any jewelry ships which refer that they are government-owned jewelry shops because Thai government do not own any jewelry shop. [Does anyone know where the "jewelry ship" docks?]

Also, all the text in the News and Promotion sections are in Thai script. Very useful for tourists who have already mastered the Thai language and wish to practice their skills.

[Lancashirelad]

In 12 years of visiting Thailand I have only once had need to request the attendance of the Tourist Police ......... they were too busy to come

[Soutpeel]

So WhizBang - did you enter all your personal information into the app so that they can locate you?

Maybe they should get together with Immigration. Who needs 90 day reports when they can constantly track you via GPS coordinate feedback? Or will the next crackdown make this app required practice?

think of th possibilties to track down the overstayers, your passport number linked to the immigration data base and they have your co-ordinates as well...

Personages on Ed visa's they can make sure your going to school..