Geographical Location

Thailand is situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, covering an area of 513,115 sq.km. and extending about 1,620 kilometres from north to south and 775 kilometres from east to west. Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Union of Myanmar to the North, the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to the East, the Union of Myanmar and the Indian Ocean to the West, and Malaysia to the south.

Thailand is divided into four natural regions: the north, northeast, the central plain, and the south. The North is a mountainous region comprising of natural forests, ridges and deep, narrow alluvial valleys. The arid Northeast region is characterized by a rolling surface and undulating hills. A lush and fertile valley, Central Thailand is the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the country. The Southern region is famous for its vast span of white-sand beaches and its pristine, tropical islands. With its thick verdant forests and rich deposits of minerals and iron ores, the region is the center for the production of rubber and the cultivation of other tropical crops.

Capital City

Bangkok, sprawls over an area of some 1,500 square kilometers on both sides of the Chao Phraya River.Established in 1782 by King Rama I, founder of the Chakri Dynasty, Bangkok has thereafter been the place of residence of the Royal Family. This fast-paced city is home to government ministries, the police and military headquarters, the Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist faith, the most prestigious universities and schools, the best medical facilities, important international organizations, and the greatest collections of art, museums, newspaper publishers, and television stations in the country.

Major Cities

North : Chiang Mai, South: Songkla, Central region : Ayutthaya and Chonburi, North Eastern : Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen.

Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country with monsoonal climate. Temperatures are highest in March and April with an average temperature of 28 degree Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius and humidity averaging between 73 percent and 82.8 percent.

Seasons

Dry : March to May, Rainy: June to October, Cool: November to February.

The population of Thailand is now 60 million, about 10 million of whom live in the capital city of Bangkok. The largest ethnic minority is the Chinese and other ethnic groups include Malays, Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Indians.

The official national language, spoken by almost 100 percent of the population, is Thai. It is a tonal language, uninflected, and predominantly monosyllabic borrowed mainly from Khmer, Pali, or Sanskrit. Dialects are spoken in rural areas. Chinese and Malay are also spoken in some areas; and English is spoken widely in Bangkok and other major cities.

Religion

Buddhism is the national religion. Thailand respects the freedom of religion, allowing all faiths to practice freely without discrimination. Under the Thai constitution, the King is Buddhist and upholder of all religions: Buddhism (95 per cent); Islam (3.9 per cent); Christianity (0.5 per cent); and others (0.6 per cent).

Banks

The country's central bank is the Bank of Thailand. Major Thai commercial banks include the Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Thai Military Bank. Business hours are 10:00 - 17:00 hours, Monday to Friday. Several international banks also have offices in Thailand.

Currency

The Baht is the standard currency unit.
1 Baht = 100 satangs
Bank Notes : 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 baht
Coins : 1, 5, and 10 baht

*** For the current foreign currency exchange please click here ***

Government and business offices are open from 8:30 to 16:30 hours, Monday to Friday.

220 volts 50 Hz. is used throughout the country.

There are over 20 Thai morning dailies in Bangkok. Some of the leading Thai papers include Thairath, Daily News, Siam Rath, Matichon, Naew Na, Siam Post, Ban Muang, Krung Thep Turakij, Wattachak and the Manager. Two major English-language dailies are the Bangkok Post and The Nation. There are numerous English-language magazines and local publications in Japanese, Chinese and other European languages. Many major international newspapers, magazines and books are also widely available.

Five television stations, Channels 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 broadcast local variety shows, newscasts and live coverage of special events. Cable TV is also available by subscription.

There are over 100 radio stations in Bangkok. All are state-owned but private companies are given air time concessions for their programs. Broadcasting is done in both Thai and English, with news broadcasted every hour.

Thailand's freedom of the press is considered the strongest in Southeast Asia, as evidenced by hundreds of Thai-language publications on virtually every subject.

Agriculture, which broadly includes crop cultivation, forestry, livestock breeding, fisheries and mining, is Thai economy's largest and most important sector. Rice cultivation remains the basis of the rural economy, as rice forms a staple part of the Thai diet. However, the significance of rice cultivation to the country's economy has declined in recent years as farmers increasingly turn their attention to other export crops such as sugar, tapioca, maize, pineapples, rubber, coconuts, kenaf, and soybeans. Two other important cash-crops that are on the rise are raw cotton and tobacco. In addition, Thailand is among Asia's biggest exporters of tropical fruits.

Livestock breeding in Thailand comprises primarily of cattle, poultry and swine rearing. After crop cultivation, livestock is the second largest component of Thailand's agricultural sector.

During the last three decades, Thailand's fisheries have been rapidly developed, contributing to an average output of an estimate 2 million tons annually. As a result, Thailand ranks among the world's top ten marine fishing nations in terms of total catch and export volume. The fisheries in the country are also the third largest in Asia, after China and Japan. Thai fishing fleets operate in distant waters as far as 1,800 km from the Gulf of Thailand coasts, and continue expand their activities by engaging in joint fishing ventures with other coastal states. Fisheries form the third largest component within the agricultural sector.

The role of the agricultural sector as the growth engine of the Thai economy has been superceded by the booming manufacturing and service sectors. Despite the declining share of agriculture in the country's total GDP, its importance as a main source of employment, especially in rural areas, cannot be underestimated. Today, 60-65% of Thailand's labour force is engaged in agricultural activities.

Modern industry is making an appearance in a number of areas throughout the country. Thailand's rapidly growing manufacturing sector includes processing facilities for rice, wood, sugar, fruits and seafood, refineries for oil and ore. There are also assembly plants for integrated circuits, automobiles, agricultural machinery, household appliances, diesel engines, drilling and welding machines. Factories produce items as diverse as textiles, furniture, ceramics, pharmaceutical products, artificial flowers and animal feeds, and industrial plants manufacture aluminum, glass and cement. Thailand's manufacturing sector faces a bright future, thanks to skilled, low-cost labor, keen market appreciation and an open competitive economic system.

Bangkok has numerous clinics and hospitals catering to a variety of needs. Major public and private hospitals are equipped with the latest medical technology and internationally qualified specialists. Almost all pharmaceuticals are widely available. Drinking of tap water should be avoided.

Telephone Services

Direct Assistance: 13 (Bangkok) and 183 (upcountry)
Long Distance Service: 100
IDD: 001+country code+area code+phone number
AT&T USA Direct Service:001-999-11111

Emergency Calls:
Mobile Police: 191
Fire Brigade: 199
Ambulance(BKK): 252-2171-5
Tourist Information (TAT Head Office): 694-1222 ext. 1000-1004, 282-9773-6
Tourist Information (Airport Office): Terminal I : 523-8972-3 , Terminal II :535-2669
Tourist Police: 195, 1155
Tourist Service Centre: 1155

Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants.

Eating Out

Bangkok is renowned for its dazzling gastronomic scene, with restaurants boasting menus from cuisines around the world. Thai cuisine gains its worldwide fame from its rich marriage of herbs and spices. In addition, Thai-grown tropical fruits, such as rambutans, mangoes, mangosteens, durians, jackfruits, and roseappales, are legendary.

Shopping

At the top of the shopping list should be Thai silk and gems. It is advisable to buy silk at Jim Thompson, Thaipun or other certified stores which guarantee quality at competitive prices, such as Narai Phan and Thailand Duty Free shops. Gems should be purchased only from TAT-approved stores to ensure quality. Main shopping areas are Siam Square, Mah Boon Krong, Central Plaza, World Trade Centre, Silom Complex, Robinson, etc. Oepning hours are typically 10:00-21:00hours.