Tourist Police Bureau

Tourist Police Bureau
กองบัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว
Official logo
AbbreviationTPB
Agency overview
Formed2017
Jurisdictional structure
National agencyThailand
Operations jurisdictionThailand
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersBang Phli, Samut Prakan, Thailand
Police officers1,700
Parent agencyRoyal Thai Police
Website
touristpolice.go.th

The Tourist Police Bureau (Thai: กองบัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว; also known as Thai Tourist Police) is a national law enforcement agency of Thailand tasked with patrolling and protecting the safety of foreign visitors and the country's tourism and entertainment industries. It is part of the Royal Thai Police.

The bureau was established on 1 September 2017, evolving from the Tourist Police Division formed in 1992, which traces its origins to 1976. Its creation was prompted by the fact that the tourism and entertainment industries in Thailand have seen continuous growth each year, and the number of people arriving in the country has steadily increased. The priorities of the tourist police include cooperation with foreign nationals and the promotion of their security.[1][2]

Functions

The Tourist Police Bureau has the following powers and responsibilities:[3]

  • Plan development strategies, monitor, provide advice to other police departments
  • Increase the confidence of tourists in their safety as well as that of their property
  • Assist tourists
  • Eliminate fraud, protecting the interests of tourists[4]
  • If necessary, help tourists cooperate with other police departments
  • Contribute to the improvement of the country's tourism image

See also

References

  1. ^ "The professional development of tourist police in Thailand: an investigation into English communication competency". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  2. ^ "รู้จักตำรวจท่องเที่ยว" [Get to know the tourist police]. Tourist Police Bureau (in Thai). Archived from the original on 28 January 2019.
  3. ^ "วิสัยทัศน์" [Vision] (in Thai). Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Thai tourist police vow crackdown on taxi drivers' scams". asiaone.com. 22 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2025.