Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports signed Memorandum of Understanding on training and developing interpreters in the justice system to protect tourists rights

           On 2 February 2022, Mr. Chote Trachu, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on training and developing interpreters in the justice system to protect tourists rights together with Professor Wisit Wisitsora-at, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice with witnesses from both organizations joining the ceremony. This MoU ceremony officially marked the beginning of the cooperation between the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Tourism and Sports, and the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Ministry of Justice, with the aim to establish a knowledge sharing program through courses on training and developing interpreters in the justice system to protect tourists rights. The two parties will also be jointly developing the curriculum to ensure that interpreters will gain the necessary skills from the program. 

           Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports said, Thailand is a key destination for tourists from around the world, as the country ranked 31st out of 140 countries in the World Economic Forums tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2019, and ranked 3rd in the ASEAN region. Meanwhile, some tourists who visited Thailand have faced issues in which they are tricked into buying services or products, while others have engaged in conflicts with tourist operators, became victims of criminal activities, became the plaintiff in criminal cases, or faced accidents that left them injured or deceased. Some have also been affected by unrest in the country, and some needed to contact government organizations. For these cases, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Tourism and Sports, has 235 officials at the Tourist Assistance Center or TAC who are able to assist tourists by acting as interpreters when they need help or need to communicate with embassies, consulates, or other organizations.

          Therefore, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Tourism and Sports, is determined to develop the skills of officials at the TAC to equip them with the knowledge and capabilities to act as interpreters in the justice system to assist and protect foreign tourists rights according to the justice system, especially for criminal cases. This program will allow foreign tourists to be able to navigate the Thai justice system with more speed and convenience, and will ensure justice for everyone involved. Moreover, the program will establish confidence in the Thai justice system and positively promote Thailands image with regards to tourism, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports said.