The government has launched a new multi-lingual hotline, number 1111, to receive complaints from foreigners, manned by staff who speak English, Japanese and Chinese. The service was officially opened on 11th March by PM’s Office deputy permanent secretary Chamroen Yutithamsakul at a press conference.
He said the hotline would receive general complaints such as issues with tax refunds and about immigration procedures, and the staff would forward them to the relevant government agencies. The service for foreigners had already been operating on a test basis for six months, he said. Foreign visitors could still file urgent complaints with tourist police via hotline number 1155 as usual,.Mr Chamroen said. PM’s Office Minister Panadda Diskul, who was in Chiang Mai province, told reporters that foreigners should view Thai people, especially government officials, as friends they could reach out to for help. He said the government’s public complaints centre was manned around the clock.
