Project director
Theeradet Juladung demonstrates the geo-informatics of Pattaya City
Guide.
Phasakorn Channgam
City officials officially have launched the “Pattaya City Guide,” an
online and service allowing visitors to search and obtain information on
more than 2,000 hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Comprised of both a website and smartphone application, City Guide
provides maps, photos and information; lets users search for information
on venue by pointing a camera phone at it; and plan routes to various
destinations. Both the website at www.pattaya.go.th and app are free.
The app, designed for both iOS and Android, can be downloaded on the
Apple App Store and Google Play.
The city guide “integrates public-relations information, services
offered by local businesses, and geo-informatics accumulated in a
database for residents and tourists,” said Pattaya spokesman Athiwit
Wattanasartsathorn. “It allows them to easily and conveniently search
for tourism destinations, businesses, shops, and hotels.”
The app tracks the user’s location and places
pictures - and advertisements - on the map corresponding to the current
position, he said.
Project director Theeradet Juladung said one innovative feature of the
app employs “augmented reality” that allows users to see information
about a tourist venue overlaid on the screen of the phone’s camera.
About 2,000 venues have been added to the system since it went online in
October. Now that the guide officially is open, officials are
encouraging the public to register a free account on the website and add
photos and information on their business or service.
Currently, both the website and app support only English and Thai, but
more languages are planned. Since its launch Oct. 1, the iOS app has
seen four updates.
