Tourism in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Tourism is a major economic
factor in the Kingdom of Thailand
, contributing an estimated 6.7% to Thailand's GDP in 2007.
during the Vietnam war
period. Coinciding, international mass tourism sharply increased during the same period due to the rising standard of living, more people acquiring more free time and due to improvements in technology making it possible to travel further, faster, cheaper and in greater numbers, epitomised by the Boeing 747
which first flew commercially in 1970. Thailand was one of the major players in Asia to capitalise on this then-new trend.
Tourist numbers have grown from 336,000 foreign visitors and 54,000 R&R soldiers in 1967 to over 14 million international guests visiting Thailand in 2007. The average duration of their stay in 2007 was 9.19 days, generating an estimated 547,782 million Thai baht
, around 11 billion Euro
. In 2007, Thailand was the 18th most visited country in the World Tourism rankings
with 14.5 million visitors. France
, comparable to Thailand in land area and population, led the list with nearly 82 million foreign visitors.
In 2008 Bangkok ranked 3rd behind London
and New York
in Euromonitor International
's list of "Top City Destinations" with 10,209,900 visitors, Pattaya
23rd with 4,406,300 visitors, Phuket
31st with 3,344,700 visitors, and Chiang Mai
ranked 78th place with 1,604,600 visitors.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 55% of the tourists in 2007 came from the Asia Pacific region, Japanese
and Malaysians forming the two biggest groups. The largest groups of Western tourists come from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United States and Scandinavia. The number of tourists arriving from the Middle East and Russia is on the rise. Around 55% of Thailand's tourists are return visitors. The peak period is during the Christmas and New Year holidays when Western tourists flee the cold conditions.
Domestic tourism has also grown significantly in the past decade. Revenues from domestic tourism have gone from 187,898 million baht in 1998 to 380,417 million baht (approximately 7.8 billion Euro) in 2007.
Asian tourists primarily visit Thailand for Bangkok
and the historical, natural and cultural sights in its vicinity. Western tourists not only visit Bangkok and surroundings but in addition many travel down to the southern beaches and islands. The North is the main region for trekking and adventure travel with its diverse ethnic minority groups and forested mountains. The region receiving less tourists is Isan
in the north-east. To facilitate foreign visitors, the Thai government established a separate tourism police with offices in the major tourist areas and its own central emergency telephone number.
Sex tourism
also contributes to arrival numbers. Although officially illegal, prostitution in Thailand
is monitored and regulated by the government to stem the spread of STD's
and to prevent excesses. Prostitution catering to foreigners is believed to be around 20% of the total prostitution scene in Thailand, and is concentrated in a few major red-light district
s such as Pattaya
, Patpong
and Patong Beach
.
Thailand has been receiving increased competition ever since Laos
, Cambodia
and Vietnam
opened up to international tourism in the 1980s and 90s. Destinations like Angkor Wat
, Luang Prabang
and Halong Bay
now contest Thailand's former monopoly in the Indochina
region. To counter this, Thailand is actively targeting niche markets such as golf holidays
, or holidays combined with medical treatment. Thailand has also plans on becoming the hub for Buddhist tourism in the region. Around 2 million foreigners visiting Thailand for medical treatment are expected in 2009, more than 3 times the amount of tourist visiting for that purpose in 2002. According to Lonely Planet
, Thailand ranks second of "Best-value destinations for 2010" after Iceland
; the latter having been hit very hard by the subprime mortgage crisis
.
source: >
Rank
Country
Jan-Oct 2011
ASEAN 9 countries
4,491,026
1
Malaysia 1,933,733
2
Mainland China 1,452,369
3
Japan 992,319
4
South Korea 868,170
5
India 784,950
6
Russia 732,417
7
Laos 712,912
8
United Kingdom 695,428
9
Australia 677,491
10
Singapore 565,034
11
United States 555,811
12
Germany 507,934
13
Vietnam 452,372
14
Early Modern France 425,310
15
Republic of China 419,550
16
Hong Kong 373,333
17
Indonesia 318,241
18
Sweden 272,207
19
Philippines 238,328
20
Cambodia 168,772
, the renewed vigorous growth of the Chinese economy
, the relatively stable internal political situation following the 2008–2009 Thai political crisis and the 2009 flu pandemic
having less of an impact as initially feared. Thailand experienced a decrease of international visitors of 16% over the first six months of 2009 but the last four months of 2009 have seen a return of foreign tourists to Thailand with a marked increase in the months of November and December. The provisional numbers for 2009 have been revised upwards to close to 14 million international visitors, which is a decrease of only 4% compared to 2008. Initially, it was feared that 2009 would show a decrease of 38% for certain sectors of the tourism industry. The new marketing slogan which was adopted in mid 2009, Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value, and the government stimulation package, seemed to have helped reversing the downward trend for the latter half of 2009 and for the first few months of 2010.
Following the verdict by the Thai Supreme Court on February 26, 2010, that 46 billion Thai baht
worth of assets of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
would be seized, the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
(UDD) organised protests in Bangkok
, the first on March 14. Initially peaceful, on April 10 and during the final crackdown
from May 13 to May 19 of 2010, the protests turned violent with clashes between protesters and security forces in Bangkok, leading to the deaths of 85 people in total, both protesters as well as security troops, and two foreign journalists.
The unrest in Bangkok have cost Thailand an estimated 7.5 billion baht (approximately 182 million euro or 232 million US dollars) in tourism revenues for the months March and April, based on international arrival numbers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the sector to recover in the third quarter if the political crisis is resolved soon. Plans have been drawn up by the government to revitalise the tourism trade, starting in June, with 1 billion baht set aside for campaigns targeting international markets and 600 million baht targeting the domestic market.
, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, exceptional flora and bird life, palaces, a huge amount of Buddhist temples and several World Heritage sites. Many tourists follow courses during their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai cooking, Buddhism
and traditional Thai massage
. Thai national festivals range from the fun-for-all water splashing Songkran to the almost fairytale like quality of Loy Krathong
. Many localities in Thailand also have their own festivals. Famous are the "Elephant Round-up
" in Surin
, the "Rocket Festival
" in Yasothon
and the curious "Phi Ta Khon
" festival in Dan Sai
.
Thai cuisine
has become deservedly famous worldwide with its enthusiastic use of fresh herbs and spices. From an inexpensive plate of delicious Som tam
at a simple street stall upcountry to a modern take on Thai cuisine in the gourmet restaurants of Bangkok, it's very difficult not to eat well in Thailand.
Only the most austere ascetics can resist shopping when in Thailand. Bangkok is renowned for its main shopping malls down town, offering an astounding variety of international and local brands. Towards the north of the city, and easily reached by skytrain or underground
, is "Chatuchak Weekend Market"
. It is possibly the largest market in the world, selling everything from household items to live, and sometimes endangered, animals. The "Pratunam Market
" downtown, is nearly totally specialised in fabrics and clothing. The night markets in the Silom
area and on Khaosan Road
are mainly tourist orientated, selling items such as T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In the vicinity of Bangkok one can find several visually stunning floating markets such as the one in Damnoen Saduak
. The "Sunday Evening Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen road inside the old city, must be the shopping highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai
up in northern Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as foreigners. The "Night Bazaar" is Chiang Mai's more tourist orientated market, sprawling over several city blocks just east of the old city walls towards the river.
.
Most of Thailand experiences three seasons:
Deeper south on the Kra Isthmus
with its tropical monsoon climate, daytime temperatures the year round tend to hover around 31 Celsius with only a marked increase in rainfall during the monsoon
s. The west coast is affected by monsoon from May to October, the south-east coast of the isthmus is affected from October to January.
Central Thailand
Northern Thailand
North-eastern Thailand
Southern Thailand
Economy of Thailand
The economy of Thailand is a newly industrialized economy. It is a heavily export-dependent economy, with exports accounting for more than two thirds of gross domestic product ....
factor in the Kingdom of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, contributing an estimated 6.7% to Thailand's GDP in 2007.
Overview
Among the reasons for the increase in tourism in the 1960s were the stable political atmosphere and the development of Bangkok as a crossroads of international air transportation. The hotel industry and retail industry both expanded rapidly due to tourist demand. It was also boosted by the presence of US soldiers who started to arrive in the 1960s for Rest and Recuperation (R&R)R&R (military)
R&R, military slang for rest and recuperation , is a term used for the free time of a soldier in the US military or International UN staff serving in non-family duty stations. R&R includes various forms, including mail, sports, film screenings, using the services of prostitutes and leave time...
during the Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
period. Coinciding, international mass tourism sharply increased during the same period due to the rising standard of living, more people acquiring more free time and due to improvements in technology making it possible to travel further, faster, cheaper and in greater numbers, epitomised by the Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
which first flew commercially in 1970. Thailand was one of the major players in Asia to capitalise on this then-new trend.
Tourist numbers have grown from 336,000 foreign visitors and 54,000 R&R soldiers in 1967 to over 14 million international guests visiting Thailand in 2007. The average duration of their stay in 2007 was 9.19 days, generating an estimated 547,782 million Thai baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
, around 11 billion Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
. In 2007, Thailand was the 18th most visited country in the World Tourism rankings
World Tourism rankings
The World Tourism rankings are compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as part of their World Tourism Barometer publication, which is released three times throughout the year...
with 14.5 million visitors. France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, comparable to Thailand in land area and population, led the list with nearly 82 million foreign visitors.
In 2008 Bangkok ranked 3rd behind London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in Euromonitor International
Euromonitor International
Euromonitor International Ltd is a privately owned, London-based market intelligence firm, providing market research and business intelligence reports and data to industry. The firm was founded in 1972...
's list of "Top City Destinations" with 10,209,900 visitors, Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
23rd with 4,406,300 visitors, Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
31st with 3,344,700 visitors, and Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
ranked 78th place with 1,604,600 visitors.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 55% of the tourists in 2007 came from the Asia Pacific region, Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
and Malaysians forming the two biggest groups. The largest groups of Western tourists come from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, the United States and Scandinavia. The number of tourists arriving from the Middle East and Russia is on the rise. Around 55% of Thailand's tourists are return visitors. The peak period is during the Christmas and New Year holidays when Western tourists flee the cold conditions.
Domestic tourism has also grown significantly in the past decade. Revenues from domestic tourism have gone from 187,898 million baht in 1998 to 380,417 million baht (approximately 7.8 billion Euro) in 2007.
Asian tourists primarily visit Thailand for Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and the historical, natural and cultural sights in its vicinity. Western tourists not only visit Bangkok and surroundings but in addition many travel down to the southern beaches and islands. The North is the main region for trekking and adventure travel with its diverse ethnic minority groups and forested mountains. The region receiving less tourists is Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
in the north-east. To facilitate foreign visitors, the Thai government established a separate tourism police with offices in the major tourist areas and its own central emergency telephone number.
Sex tourism
Sex tourism
Sex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
also contributes to arrival numbers. Although officially illegal, prostitution in Thailand
Prostitution in Thailand
Prostitution in Thailand is illegal, although in practice it is tolerated and partly regulated. Prostitution is practised openly throughout the country. Local officials with commercial interests in prostitution often protect the practice. The precise number of prostitutes is difficult to assess;...
is monitored and regulated by the government to stem the spread of STD's
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted disease , also known as a sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
and to prevent excesses. Prostitution catering to foreigners is believed to be around 20% of the total prostitution scene in Thailand, and is concentrated in a few major red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
s such as Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
, Patpong
Patpong
Patpong is an entertainment district in Bangkok, Thailand, catering mainly, though not exclusively, to foreign tourists and expatriates. While Patpong is internationally known as a red light district at the heart of Bangkok's sex industry, it is in fact only one of numerous red-light districts...
and Patong Beach
Patong Beach
Patong Beach refers to a beach on Phuket's west coast, and to the town adjoining it. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket. It also contains an important center of Phuket's nightlife and is the center of inexpensive shopping on the island. The beach became popular with Western tourists,...
.
Thailand has been receiving increased competition ever since Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
opened up to international tourism in the 1980s and 90s. Destinations like Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu,...
, Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang , is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province...
and Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long City, Cẩm Phả town, and part of Van Don district. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes...
now contest Thailand's former monopoly in the Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
region. To counter this, Thailand is actively targeting niche markets such as golf holidays
Golf in Thailand
Golf arrived in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V one hundred years ago. It was first played by nobles and other elitists of high society but over the past decade or so, the popularity of golf in Thailand has escalated, played both by local Thais and visiting foreign tourists and...
, or holidays combined with medical treatment. Thailand has also plans on becoming the hub for Buddhist tourism in the region. Around 2 million foreigners visiting Thailand for medical treatment are expected in 2009, more than 3 times the amount of tourist visiting for that purpose in 2002. According to Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
, Thailand ranks second of "Best-value destinations for 2010" after Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
; the latter having been hit very hard by the subprime mortgage crisis
Subprime mortgage crisis
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis was one of the first indicators of the late-2000s financial crisis, characterized by a rise in subprime mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, and the resulting decline of securities backed by said mortgages....
.
Annual statistics
| Year | changes | references | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 19,500,000 | +22.00 % | |
| 2010 | 15,936,400 | +12.63 % | |
| 2009 | 14,149,841 | -2.98 % | |
| 2008 | 14,584,220 | +0.83 % | |
| 2007 | 14,464,228 | +4.65 % | |
| 2006 | 13,821,802 | +20.01 % | |
| 2005 | 11,516,936 | -1.15% | |
| 2004 | 11,650,703 | no data |
20 Most visited nationalities
Data from Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and sports, 2010| Rank | country | amount (people) | percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASEAN 9 countries | 4,534,235 | 28.45 | |
| 1 | Malaysia |
2,058,956 | 12.92 |
| 2 | Mainland China |
1,122,219 | 7.04 |
| 3 | Japan |
993,674 | 6.24 |
| 4 | United Kingdom |
810,727 | 5.09 |
| 5 | South Korea |
805,445 | 5.05 |
| 6 | India |
760,371 | 4.77 |
| 7 | Laos |
715,345 | 4.49 |
| 8 | Australia |
698,046 | 4.38 |
| 9 | Russia |
644,678 | 4.05 |
| 10 | United States |
611,792 | 3.84 |
| 11 | Germany |
606,874 | 3.81 |
| 12 | Singapore |
603,538 | 3.79 |
| 13 | Early Modern France |
461,670 | 2.90 |
| 14 | Vietnam |
380,368 | 2.39 |
| 15 | Republic of China |
369,220 | 2.32 |
| 16 | Sweden |
355,214 | 2.23 |
| 17 | Hong Kong |
316,476 | 1.99 |
| 18 | Indonesia |
286,072 | 1.80 |
| 19 | Philippines |
246,430 | 1.55 |
| 20 |  Netherlands |
196,994 | 1.24 |
Top20 Tourist Market Jan-Oct 2011
Malaysia Mainland China Japan South Korea India Russia Laos United Kingdom Australia Singapore United States Germany Vietnam Early Modern France Republic of China Hong Kong Indonesia Sweden Philippines CambodiaOutlook for 2010
At the beginning of the year, the forecasts for tourism over 2010 seemed positive due to the easing of the monetary crisisSubprime mortgage crisis
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis was one of the first indicators of the late-2000s financial crisis, characterized by a rise in subprime mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, and the resulting decline of securities backed by said mortgages....
, the renewed vigorous growth of the Chinese economy
Economy of the People's Republic of China
The People's Republic of China ranks since 2010 as the world's second largest economy after the United States. It has been the world's fastest-growing major economy, with consistent growth rates of around 10% over the past 30 years. China is also the largest exporter and second largest importer of...
, the relatively stable internal political situation following the 2008–2009 Thai political crisis and the 2009 flu pandemic
2009 flu pandemic
The 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...
having less of an impact as initially feared. Thailand experienced a decrease of international visitors of 16% over the first six months of 2009 but the last four months of 2009 have seen a return of foreign tourists to Thailand with a marked increase in the months of November and December. The provisional numbers for 2009 have been revised upwards to close to 14 million international visitors, which is a decrease of only 4% compared to 2008. Initially, it was feared that 2009 would show a decrease of 38% for certain sectors of the tourism industry. The new marketing slogan which was adopted in mid 2009, Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value, and the government stimulation package, seemed to have helped reversing the downward trend for the latter half of 2009 and for the first few months of 2010.
Following the verdict by the Thai Supreme Court on February 26, 2010, that 46 billion Thai baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
worth of assets of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
would be seized, the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship , whose supporters are commonly called "Red Shirts", is a political pressure group opposed to the People's Alliance for Democracy , the 2006 Thai military coup, and supporters of the coup. Notable UDD leaders include Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut...
(UDD) organised protests in Bangkok
2010 Thai political protests
A prolonged series of political protests occurred in Bangkok, Thailand in 2010 from March to May against the Democrat Party-led government. The protests were organized by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship...
, the first on March 14. Initially peaceful, on April 10 and during the final crackdown
2010 Thai military crackdown
On 10 April and 13–19 May 2010, the Thai military cracked down on the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship protests in central Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. The crackdown was the culmination of months of protests that called for the Democrat Party-led government of Abhisit...
from May 13 to May 19 of 2010, the protests turned violent with clashes between protesters and security forces in Bangkok, leading to the deaths of 85 people in total, both protesters as well as security troops, and two foreign journalists.
The unrest in Bangkok have cost Thailand an estimated 7.5 billion baht (approximately 182 million euro or 232 million US dollars) in tourism revenues for the months March and April, based on international arrival numbers. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects the sector to recover in the third quarter if the political crisis is resolved soon. Plans have been drawn up by the government to revitalise the tourism trade, starting in June, with 1 billion baht set aside for campaigns targeting international markets and 600 million baht targeting the domestic market.
International marketing slogan
The main marketing slogan for promoting Thailand internationally was "Amazing Thailand", but, in reaction to the 2009 tourism crisis, it was relaunched as "Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value". By contrast, the main marketing slogan for promoting Thai tourism to the Thai is Unseen in Thailand.Attractions
Thailand offers a great variety of attractions. These include diving sitesDiving in Thailand
Scuba diving in Thailand is very popular. Thailand has some reefs and a number of shipwrecks. The number of divers coming to Thailand continues to increase year after year ....
, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, exceptional flora and bird life, palaces, a huge amount of Buddhist temples and several World Heritage sites. Many tourists follow courses during their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai cooking, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and traditional Thai massage
Thai massage
Thai massage is a type of massage in Thai style that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage...
. Thai national festivals range from the fun-for-all water splashing Songkran to the almost fairytale like quality of Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong
Loi Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and certain parts of Laos and Burma .-Overview:...
. Many localities in Thailand also have their own festivals. Famous are the "Elephant Round-up
Surin Elephant Round-up
The Surin Elephant Round-up usually takes place on the third weekend of November in Surin province, Isan, Thailand. It is of recent origin, first held in 1960. The people of Surin were traditionally excellent at capturing elephants in Cambodia, then training them as working animals...
" in Surin
Surin, Thailand
Surin is a town in Thailand, capital of Surin province. It is the site of the annual Surin Elephant Round-up. Surin has many farangs living within its Centre and Suburbs.-Etymology:...
, the "Rocket Festival
Rocket Festival
A Rocket Festival is a merit-making ceremony traditionally practiced by Ethnic Lao people throughout much of northeast Thailand and Laos, by numerous villages and municipalities near the beginning of the rainy season...
" in Yasothon
Yasothon
Yasothon is a town on the Chi River in the northeastern region of Thailand. It is the capital and administrative center of Yasothon Province and seat of its City District. Within this district, subdistrict Nai Mueang comprises the bounds of the town proper, which had a population of 21,134 in 2005...
and the curious "Phi Ta Khon
Pee Ta Khon
Pee Ta Khon is the most common name for a group of festivals held in Dan Sai, Loei province, Isan, Thailand. The events take place over three days some time between March and July, the dates being selected annually by the town’s mediums.The whole event is called Bun Luang...
" festival in Dan Sai
Amphoe Dan Sai
Dan Sai is a district in the western part of Loei Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Phu Ruea of Loei Province, Lom Kao and Khao Kho of Phetchabun Province, Nakhon Thai of Phitsanulok Province, and Na Haeo of Loei again...
.
Thai cuisine
Cuisine of Thailand
Thai cuisine is the national cuisine of Thailand. Blending elements of several Southeast Asian traditions, Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. The spiciness of Thai cuisine is well known. As with other Asian cuisines, balance, detail and variety...
has become deservedly famous worldwide with its enthusiastic use of fresh herbs and spices. From an inexpensive plate of delicious Som tam
Som tam
Som tam or som tum also known as tam bak hung is a spicy salad, the standard form of which is made from shredded unripened papaya. Som tam is similar to the Laotian dish tam mak hung and the Cambodian dish bok l'hong...
at a simple street stall upcountry to a modern take on Thai cuisine in the gourmet restaurants of Bangkok, it's very difficult not to eat well in Thailand.
Only the most austere ascetics can resist shopping when in Thailand. Bangkok is renowned for its main shopping malls down town, offering an astounding variety of international and local brands. Towards the north of the city, and easily reached by skytrain or underground
Bangkok Metro
The MRT , sometimes referred to as the Bangkok Metro, is Bangkok's underground metro system in Thailand. It was constructed under a concession concept...
, is "Chatuchak Weekend Market"
Chatuchak weekend market
Chatuchak weekend market in Bangkok is the largest market in Thailand. Frequently called J.J., it covers over 35 acres and contains upwards of 5,000 stalls. It is estimated that the market receives 200,000 visitors each day. Most stalls only open on Saturdays and Sundays though Jatujak Plaza,...
. It is possibly the largest market in the world, selling everything from household items to live, and sometimes endangered, animals. The "Pratunam Market
Pratunam Market
Pratunam Market is one of Bangkok's major markets, focusing on clothes which makes it Thailand's largest clothing market. The name Pratunam means Water gate.-Overview:...
" downtown, is nearly totally specialised in fabrics and clothing. The night markets in the Silom
Si Lom
Si Lom is a sub-District and road in Bang Rak district, Bangkok, Thailand. Constructed in 1851 as part of a dyke and irrigation system, Silom road has become one of Bangkok's most cosmopolitan streets and major financial center; it is the home to some of the largest companies in Thailand ex...
area and on Khaosan Road
Khaosan Road
Khaosan Road or Khao Sarn Road is a short street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Banglamphu area of about 1 km north of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew....
are mainly tourist orientated, selling items such as T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and sunglasses. In the vicinity of Bangkok one can find several visually stunning floating markets such as the one in Damnoen Saduak
Amphoe Damnoen Saduak
Damnoen Saduak is a district in central Thailand in the province Ratchaburi. The central town is most famous because of its floating market held every day till noon on a khlong not far from the district office...
. The "Sunday Evening Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen road inside the old city, must be the shopping highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
up in northern Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as foreigners. The "Night Bazaar" is Chiang Mai's more tourist orientated market, sprawling over several city blocks just east of the old city walls towards the river.
Climate
Thailand predominantly has a tropical wet and dry or savannah climate while the South and the eastern tip of the East have a tropical monsoon climateTropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
.
Most of Thailand experiences three seasons:
- The cool dry season from late November till February is most excellent up north with temperatures in December for Chiang MaiChiang MaiChiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
averaging around 15 Celsius at night time and going up to around 28 Celsius during daytime with clear sunny skies. Higher up in the mountains, temperatures can even drop down to near freezing at night. In Bangkok and in the central and north-eastern plains of Thailand, midday temperatures during the cool dry season average around 30 Celsius and the humidity is much lower. - The hot dry season from March till May can see daytime temperatures in the mid to high 30s. This is the time for holding festivals (such as Songkran and Rocket FestivalRocket FestivalA Rocket Festival is a merit-making ceremony traditionally practiced by Ethnic Lao people throughout much of northeast Thailand and Laos, by numerous villages and municipalities near the beginning of the rainy season...
) to mark the coming of the rainy season. - The rainy season from May to October has daytime temperatures in the low 30s with night-time temperatures in the mid to high 20s. Rain showers occur mainly late in the afternoon or early in the evening. It is also extremely humid.
Deeper south on the Kra Isthmus
Kra Isthmus
The Kra Isthmus is the narrow land bridge which connects the Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Asia, and popularly named "The Devil's Neck".-Geography:...
with its tropical monsoon climate, daytime temperatures the year round tend to hover around 31 Celsius with only a marked increase in rainfall during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
s. The west coast is affected by monsoon from May to October, the south-east coast of the isthmus is affected from October to January.
Major destinations
- Ayutthaya
- BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
- Hua HinHua HinHua Hin is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.Hua Hin is closely associated with the...
- KanchanaburiKanchanaburiKanchanaburi ) is a town in the west of Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327...
- Ko ChangKo ChangKo Chang is the third largest island of Thailand , located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. The name means Elephant Island. Ko Chang was named for the elephant shape of its headland, although elephants are not indigenous to...
- PattayaPattayaPattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
Northern Thailand
- Chiang MaiChiang MaiChiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
- Chiang RaiChiang Rai ProvinceChiang Rai is the northernmost province of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Phayao, Lampang and Chiang Mai. In the north it borders Shan State of Myanmar and Bokeo of Laos.-Geography:...
- Mae Hong SonMae Hong Son ProvinceMost of the areas of Mae Hong Son Province are complex mountain ranges and likely still pristine virgin forest. Of the approximately 6,976,650 rai of national forest reserves, 88.02% is thought to be pristine virgin forest...
- PaiPai, ThailandPai is a small town in northern Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, about 50 miles/80 km north of Chiang Mai on the northern route to Mae Hong Son. It lies along the Pai River. The town has thesaban tambon status and covers parts of the tambon Wiang Tai of Pai district...
- SukhothaiSukhothai ProvinceSukhothai is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Lampang...
North-eastern Thailand
- Khao Yai National ParkKhao Yai National ParkKhao Yai National Park is a national park in Thailand.-Description:Khao Yai National Park is situated in the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, the southern prolongation of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, at the southwestern boundary of the Khorat Plateau....
- Phimai historical parkPhimai historical parkThe Phimai historical park protects one of the most important Khmer temples of Thailand. It is located in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province....
- Udon ThaniUdon ThaniUdon Thani is a city in Isan, north-east Thailand, and the capital of Udon Thani Province.-Location:The province of Udon Thani has a population of 1,467.200, the city alone 500.000. Geographical location and is approximately 560 km from Bangkok...
Southern Thailand
- Hatyai
- Ko SamuiKo SamuiKo Samui island of Surat Thani Province , or often, simply Samui as it is referred to by locals, is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's second largest island, with an area of 228.7 km2 and a population of over...
- KrabiKrabiKrabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phangnga Bay. As of 2005 the town has a population of 24,986. The town is the capital of Krabi Province and Krabi district...
- Nakhon Si ThammaratNakhon Si ThammaratNakhon Si Thammarat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and the Nakhon Si Thammarat district. It is about south of Bangkok, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The city was the administrative center of southern Thailand during most of its history. ...
- Phang NgaPhang NgaPhang Nga ) is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Phang Nga Province. The town covers the whole tambon Thai Chang of Mueang Phang Nga district. As of 2005 it has a population of 9,559 and covers an area of 6.75 km²....
- PhuketPhuket ProvincePhuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
See also
General
- Provinces of ThailandProvinces of ThailandThailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
Tourist attractions listed under each individual province - Transportation in ThailandTransport in ThailandTransport in Thailand is varied and chaotic, with no one dominant means of transport. Bus transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural areas for short trips, supplanting bicycles. Road transportation is the primary form of freight transport across the...
- Geography of ThailandGeography of ThailandThailands 514,000 square kilometers lie in the middle of mainland Southeast Asia. The nation's axial position influenced many aspects of Thailand's society and culture—it controls the only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore....
- Public holidays in ThailandPublic holidays in ThailandPublic holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually sixteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Since 1996, if a holiday falls on a weekend, the following workday is observed as...
Art and culture
- Prehistoric ThailandPrehistoric ThailandPrehistoric Thailand may be traced back as far as 1,000,000 years ago from the fossils and stone tools found in northern and western Thailand, an archaeological site in Lampang, northern Thailand. Homo erectus fossils, Lampang Man, dating back to between 1,000,000 – 500,000 years, have been...
- History of ThailandHistory of ThailandTai peoples who originally lived in southwestern China, migrated into mainland Southeast Asia over a period of many centuries. The oldest known mention of their existence in the region by the exonym Siamese is in a twelfth-century A.D. inscription at the Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat in...
- Culture of ThailandCulture of ThailandThe Culture of Thailand incorporates cultural beliefs and characteristics indigenous to the area known as modern day Thailand coupled with much influence from ancient India, China, Cambodia, along with the neighbouring pre-historic cultures of Southeast Asia...
- Ethnic groups in ThailandEthnic groups in ThailandThailand is a country with many distinct ethnic groups, just like other countries, including the majority Thai and numerous hill tribes living primarily in the mountains of the north...
- Thai temple art and architectureThai Temple Art and ArchitectureThis article on Thai temple art and architecture discusses Buddhist temples in Thailand. A typical Thai Wat, which is loosely translated as monastery or temple, has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world.-Wat architecture :The architecture of a Wat has seen many changes in...
- List of Buddhist temples in Thailand
- Development of the Buddha image in ThailandBuddha images in ThailandA Buddha image in Thailand typically refers to three dimensional stone, wood, clay, or metal cast images of the Buddha. While there are such figures in all regions where Buddhism is commonly practiced, the appearance, composition and position of the images vary greatly from country to...
- Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand
- Dance of ThailandDance of ThailandDance in Thailand is the main dramatic art form of Thailand. Thai dance, like many forms of traditional Asian dance, can be divided into two major categories that correspond roughly to the high art and low art distinction....
- Thai silkThai silkThai silk is produced from the cocoons of Thai silkworms. Thai weavers, mainly from the Khorat Plateau in the northeast region of Thailand, raise the caterpillars on a steady diet of mulberry leaves...
- Cuisine of ThailandCuisine of ThailandThai cuisine is the national cuisine of Thailand. Blending elements of several Southeast Asian traditions, Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. The spiciness of Thai cuisine is well known. As with other Asian cuisines, balance, detail and variety...
- Category:Festivals in Thailand
Nature and sports
- List of national parks of Thailand
- List of mammals in Thailand
- List of birds of Thailand
- List of islands of Thailand
- Diving in ThailandDiving in ThailandScuba diving in Thailand is very popular. Thailand has some reefs and a number of shipwrecks. The number of divers coming to Thailand continues to increase year after year ....
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Thailand)Ministry of Tourism and Sports (Thailand)The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Kingdom of Thailand is a Cabinet ministry in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry's primary area of responsibility are over Tourism and Sports in the Kingdom. The Ministry is in charge of promoting the tourist industry and promote sports both in...
- Muay ThaiMuay ThaiMuay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
Thai martial art of kickboxing
Language
- Thai languageThai languageThai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
- TinglishTinglishTinglish or Thaiglish is the imperfect form of English produced by native Thai speakers due to language interference from the first language...
Thai version of the English language - FarangFarangFarang , also spelled falang, is the generic Thai word for a Westerner. A general term for foreigners is khon tang prathet . There is no expressly negative or positive implication in the word itself. However when it is used along with other words, it can bring a negative meaning depending on...
Thai word for a foreigner of European ancestry
Tourism
- Tourism in BangkokTourism in BangkokThe city of Bangkok, Thailand, is one of the world's leading tourist destinations. According to the website Euromonitor, in 2006 Bangkok recorded second largest number of tourists, beaten only by London.-Palaces and wats:...
- Markets in Bangkok
- Medical tourism in Thailand
- Responsible Tourism in ThailandResponsible Tourism in ThailandResponsible Tourism is a relatively modern concept in the kingdom of Thailand, that took root in the late 1990s. It is underpinned by the belief that tourism should develop in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on local communities, and wherever possible ensure that a positive symbiosis exist...
- List of shopping malls in Thailand
- Banana Pancake TrailBanana Pancake TrailThe Banana Pancake Trail is the name given to the well-trodden and constantly growing routes around South East Asia travelled by backpackers and other tourists...
- Category:Visitor attractions in Thailand
External links
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
- Upcoming festivals and events listed by the TAT
- Negative consequences of tourist development in Thailand
- Travel information for Thailand in Wikitravel.org
- Dos and Don'ts for tourists at Wikitravel.org
- English language Thai daily newspaper Bangkok Post
- English language Thai daily newspaper The Nation
- Birdwatching in Thailand
- Caves and caving in Thailand
- Tourist Police of Thailand