The quick response codes are a part of a massive program mean to inform travelers throughout the country.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand has now launched a program called “Thailand Scan me” in which tourism QR codes are strategically placed to provide travelers with information about the various types of attractions they can find across the country but to which they may not otherwise have been exposed.
The goal is to ensure that tourists will be as informed as possible about what is available in the country.
The tourism QR codes project was initially launched at the Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre, which is located in Chanthaburi. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, the tourism and sports minister, explained that the use of these quick response codes will provide travelers who are visiting the country with easy access to helpful information they can obtain in both Thai and English.
The project is meant to provide high quality information, though that does vary from one attraction to the next as they each created their own content. That said, it is likely to match the type of content that is already available in the brochures printed for each of the participating attractions.
The tourism QR codes were selected as the means to obtaining the information as virtually everyone carries smartphones.
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul pointed out that “Today, travelers use smartphones to search tourism information particularly via mobile application that can scan QR codes so the Department of Tourism gathers tourism information on attractions, transportation, facilities, accommodation, restaurants and shopping venue for travelers.”
In Chanthaburi alone, there are already 29 different QR code plaques that have been placed at eight different places within the city. Those attractions are: the Old Town Chanthaboon Waterfront Community (5 plaques), Laemsing Beach (5), The Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Center (4), Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat Public Park (5), Khao Khitchakut National Park (2), Khung Wiman Beach (4) and Namtok Philo National Park (1).
Throughout the first year of the tourism QR codes program, the goal is to place about 300 scannable plaques across the country at a minimum of 60 different attractions. Among them, 30 will be located at UNESCO heritage sites, 28 will be at national parks and 253 will be placed at 12 different hidden gem destinations and their 57 attractions.
