Thailand opens 12 Tourist Assistance Centers across key locations in the destination

• Popular destinations like Phuket, Krabi, Chonburi (near Pattaya) and Suratthani (near Koh Samui) will all feature a TAC
• The idea is to make suggestions to government bodies as well as assist tourists on-ground
• Typical commercial tourist destination issues such as fraud will be dealt with
• Will follow a prevention AND cure strategy in reducing tourist woes

Mumbai, 17 November 2015: The Thai Ministry for Tourism & Sports has undertaken a brand new initiative to ensure that on-ground tourist needs are heard by the government. Tourist Assistance Centers (TACs), will as the name suggests, offer tourists a helping hand in case of any eventualities. Additionally, TACs will be responsible for making recommendations (based on hands-on interaction with tourists) to the government.

The TAC concept has been rolled out after extensive research and reasoning. The world over, popular tourist destinations that experience very high footfalls experience similar issues – tourists are often subject to fraud. Accidents tend to happen. Moreover, when a natural or man-made calamity occurs, control and communication with countless tourists amidst the chaos becomes an issue. The Thai Ministry of Tourism & Sports is keen to do everything in its power to prevent such issues and in the event that they occur, offer remedial measures to ensure that the tourist is well taken care of.

Ms Soraya Homchuen, director, TAT Mumbai says, “India being one of Thailand’s foremost markets, showing among the largest number of tourist arrivals annually, I expect that this news will be well-received. All destinations popular among Indian tourists will have a TAC.”

Over a dozen TACs are already up and running. Tourists visiting Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchatthani, Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Phuket, Krabi, Songkhla, Suratthani and Chonburi can all access TACs in these locations. There are also TACs at both Suvaranabhumi and Don Muang Airports in Bangkok.

Authorities have gone all out to make the new body as approachable as possible. Besides the staples such as emails and phone calls, tourists can also visit their facebook page, TouristCareThailand.

“I expect this to be a great convenience to Indian travellers,” Homchuen concludes.