The Tourist Police Bureau (Thai: กองบัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว) of Thailand was formed on September 1, 2017. It was elevated from the Tourist Police Division, which was formed in 1992 and traces its origins to 1976. The Tourist Police is a department of the Royal Thai Police, which is the main law enforcement agency in the country. The creation of the Tourist Police is due to the fact that the tourism and entertainment industry in Thailand is growing every year, and the number of people arriving in the country is constantly increasing. The priorities of the Tourist Police include cooperation with foreign nationals and the promotion of their security. On September 6, 2017, General Prawit Wongsuwan who is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Thailand appointed Lieutenant-General Terapon Kuptanond Commander of the Tourist Police.
