Communication and language problems between tourists and Thai police have prompted Pol. Col. Grissak Songmoonnark, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station to establish the Tourist Assistant Project. Mr. Grissak has invited people of different nationalities and locals of foreign origin who want to be volunteers to sign-up for the project.

"The Royal Thai Police Tourist Assistant project will have locals of foreign origin--volunteers--who sacrifice their free time to work with the Royal Thai police without reward," explains Grissak. "They can speak many languages so they can communicate with tourists in their native language when tourists need help, or find themselves in trouble. We will scrutinise all volunteers' backgrounds through respective embassies; to ensure that volunteers are honest and well-meaning, before they are allowed to participate."



Sign-up for the project is already underway, the "Help Point" at the Police station, close to Patong Beach, is currently accepting applications from hopeful volunteers.

"We chose the location because it's opposite Bang La road which has many foreign tourists visiting; being the centre for tourists in Patong. Other tourist assistant signboards have been set up at either entrance to Bang La road. The signboards have volunteers' details: photos, contact number, language-skill information. Each volunteer's photo shows the national flag which communicates how many and which languages he can speak, so when the tourists need help they can look at the signboard and contact volunteers directly, after which the volunteers will contact the police station and inform officials what's happening, to make it easier for both the police and the volunteers. The volunteers will also patrol tourist areas. In emergencies, they will have a Tourist Assistant's car to transport any injured to hospitals."

Grissak continued, saying: "At present, we have about forty-five volunteers from many nations, we want these volunteers to be an important part of the police team, to facilitate more understanding among tourists. For example, the volunteers would be in a better position to explain to tourists the situation in the country, cultural dos and don'ts, traffic regulations, etc. We're hoping that the signboards will help to promote awareness about this project and will encourage the tourists to make use of it."

Grissak has also had a meeting with the Patong Accommodation Association to talk about increasing the levels of effective security in their hotels by training security guards to work in close association with the Royal Thai Police.