Helicopters have joined the search for a German pensioner who went missing while on holiday in Phuket, Thailand.

The helicopters were deployed as rescue teams scoured land, air, and sea for Barbara Elisabeth Monika Glag Lange, 76, the German tourist who disappeared on May 9.

Bancha Thanu-in, Thalang District chief officer, said: ‘The officers have been searching for Ms. Barbara in the areas she frequents such as the hotel, Mai Khao Beach, Sirinat National Park, and the Tha Chatchai area. Ms. Barbara was last seen on CCTV at the Khao Sai Kru area.

'The rescue team will be divided into four groups. The first is a navy team that will search for Ms. Barbara from helicopters. They've already made two rounds today.'

He added that boats and rescuers on foot have been combing the areas near the beach, the forest, and Khao Sai Kru where the woman was last seen.

Barbara, who reportedly suffers from Alzheimer's disease, reportedly told guests ‘she was going for a walk to a house on a mountain’ when she was last seen. Police said that she had been staying at the Maikhao Palm Beach Resort.

She was seen on CCTV leaving her room just after 8 am on May 9 before walking along a nearby road towards woodland.

Tourist police have also been trying to trace her location by interviewing locals and other holidaymakers but so far without success. Regional police have also been called in to help the efforts.

Bancha said: ‘The last person who believes they talked with Barbara before she had gone missing told us that the woman said she was going for a walk to a house on a mountain.

'All the possible areas are being searched including beaches and forests. It's important to find the tourist as soon as possible as she may not have supplies of food and water.'

The holidaymaker was wearing a blue jacket with a white shirt and black trousers on the day she was reported missing by the hotel staff. A search and rescue operation is still ongoing for the woman.

Another German tourist also went missing this month. Leon Isiman Samuels, 21, had to be rescued after he was trapped between two large rocks when he decided to walk from the airport to his hotel upon arriving by taking a ‘shortcut’ in a forest next to Nai Thon beach.