Travel TechnologyThe mobile app aims to improve tourist safety amid human trafficking and cross-border scam concerns with Myanmar.

Thailand launches app to protect tourists from human trafficking

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The “Thailand Tourist Police” app enables tourists to report emergencies by sending messages, photos, and locations, connecting directly with police via a red “SOS” button.
The “Thailand Tourist Police” app enables tourists to report emergencies by sending messages, photos, and locations, connecting directly with police via a red “SOS” button. Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Dickelbers

The “Thailand Tourist Police” app, launched on 12 December 2024, allows tourists to report incidents and seek assistance by sending messages, photos, and location data.

It is integrated with the 24/7 “1155” tourist police hotline, which supports eight languages, and the “191” emergency hotline for swift response. For urgent situations, users can press a red “SOS” button to connect directly with local police.

Thai authorities reported receiving approximately 1,000 reports through the app and hotline since its launch, including 200 emergency calls in a single day on 13 January 2025. These reports cover incidents such as accidents, crimes, and immigration-related issues. No cases of individuals trapped in Thailand or neighbouring areas have been reported.

Concerns over safety have impacted Thailand’s appeal as a travel destination for Chinese tourists, particularly ahead of the Lunar New Year travel season. The decline follows the widely publicised abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who went missing shortly after arriving in Thailand for work in early January.

Thai authorities rescued Wang on 7 January 2025 from a scam operation in Myanmar, where he had been trafficked after being lured to the region under false pretences. Police confirmed Wang was transported across the Thai-Myanmar border and forced to participate in a scam targeting other Chinese nationals.

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