CONCLUSIONS
Thailand is experiencing a growth in tourism and it is anticipated there will be continued growth with
estimates of twenty million foreign visitors by 2008. One of the special features supporting this
industry is the Tourist Police whose main role is to ensure the safety and well being of the tourists,
mainly English speaking. This research study was the first stage of a larger project to review and
develop training programmes for Tourist Police in English communication. To determine the
perceived current levels of English communication skills of Tourist Police information was obtained
through in-location observations, focus groups and individual interviews using a sample of
administrators, Tourist Police and foreign tourists. Respondents were asked to determine the
perceived current English communication skills of Tourist Police and also suggestions for improved
and more effective professional training programmes for Tourist Police. Communication skills of
Tourist Police were found to be limited in speaking and listening abilities however these limitations
were compensated by cultural communication attributes that helped to overcome problems. It was
suggested by some respondents that the younger members of the TPD were more effective in
English communication and there were some reasons suggested for this. All respondents agreed
that there was scope to improve on the training provision of Tourist Police to increase their English
communication. Suggestions were made for the improvement of English communication training
programmes for Tourist Police. Suggestions for training programme improvement covered: the
background of the instructor, course duration and format, teaching methods and the content.
These suggestions will be considered and incorporated into the next stage of this project — the
development of the English training programme for Tourist Police.