Police urge Phuket tourists to use Tourist Buddy app

PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Police are urging visitors to the island to download and register the agency’s Tourist Buddy application, which is now available on Google Play for devices running the Android platform (click here).

The Tourist Police launched its Tourist Buddy app on Apple’s iTunes store last month, making it instantly available for iPhone and iPad users (click here).

Tourist Buddy, available in English and Thai, allows users to quickly access local maps, find out where tourist attractions are, and learn about local events and even discounts at local restaurants and other businesses.

“But more importantly, it also allows tourists to quickly contact the Tourist Police if they need to,” explained Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Koondejsumrit.

When users first launch the Tourist Buddy app, they are asked whether or not they want the Tourist Police to know their location, delivered through the phone’s GPS facility.

“If tourists in danger use the app to call the Tourist Police 24-hour national hotline, 1155, we will know exactly where they are [within 10 meters] and will be able to go immediately to the right location to help,” Maj Urumporn said.

Other important features include an “Email us” button, which allows users to send images and video directly to the Tourist Police headquarters in Bangkok.

“The officers in Bangkok will send the email directly to us here in Phuket,” Maj Urumporn said.

Not many tourists have downloaded the app, but so far all of the feedback we have received has been positive, Maj Urumporn explained.

“I would like more people in Phuket to use this app, because it will make it safer and more convenient for tourists to travel anywhere in Thailand,” he explained.

“There are many millions of Android users now and we want to make sure they can use Tourist Buddy, too,” he added.

— Saran Mitrarat