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Thailand
General Information
 Full
name of the country: Kingdom
of Thailand.
Area: 517,000sq km
Population: 62 million
Capital city:
Bangkok (population
of 6 million people)
People: 75% Thai, 11% Chinese,
3.5% Malay, also Mon, Khmer, Phuan
and Karen minorities
Language: Thai
Religion: 95% Buddhism, 4%
Muslim, others 1%
Government: Democratic constitutional
monarchy
Prime Minister: Thaksin Shinawatra
Head of state: King Bhumibol
Adulyadej (Rama IX)
There is never a dull day in
Thailand. Whether it is the Songkran
Festival or the first cool breeze
of the winter season, there is always
something to make you smile, laugh,
cry or get excited about. Thailand
is a land of magic and mystery attracting
the Western world in seek of advantage
and romance. Take the opportunity
to view the below destinations and
see what hidden treasures await
you.
Thailand, or Siam as it was called
until 1939, has never been colonised
by a foreign nation, unlike its
south and other Southeast Asian
neighbours. Therefore, the kingdom
has never been externally controlled
to dampen the Thai's individualism.
General Information:
Blessed with a huge collection
of beautiful natural resources and
vibrant culture, it is no wonder
that Thais are such fun-loving people.
Quite simply, where else can you
find pristine beaches, crystal blue
waters, an assortment of activities
and a choice of modern or traditional
accommodations all in one compact
package.
 Background:
A unified Thai kingdom was established
in the mid-14th century known as
Siam until 1939, Thailand is the
only Southeast Asian country never
to have been taken over by a Foreign
Administration. A bloodless revolution
in 1932 led to a constitutional
monarchy. In alliance with Japan
during World War II, Thailand became
a US ally following the conflict.
Thailand is currently facing armed
violence in its three Muslim-majority
southernmost provinces.
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering
the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of
Thailand, Southeast of Burma
Area:
Total: 514,000 sq km
Land: 511,770 sq km
Water: 2,230 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km,
Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,
Malaysia 506 km
Climate:
Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy
southwest monsoon (mid-May to September);
dry, cool northeast monsoon (November
to mid-March); southern part is
always hot and humid.
Weather:
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate
with three distinct seasons-hot
and dry from February to May (average
temperature 34 degrees Celsius and
75% humidity); rainy with plenty
of sunshine from June to October
(average day temperature 29 degrees
Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool
from November to January (temperatures
range from 32 degrees Celsius to
below 20 degrees Celsius with a
drop in humidity).
Krabi Weather
Much lower temperatures are experienced
in the North and Northeast during
night time. The Southern part has
a tropical rainforest climate with
temperatures averaging 28 degrees
Celsius almost all year round.
 People
Population:
65,444,371
Note: estimates for this
country explicitly take into account
the effects of excess mortality
due to AIDS; this can result in
lower life expectancy, higher infant
mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population
by age and sex than would otherwise
be expected (July 2005 est.)
Passport
& Visa:
Travellers are required to hold
a passport valid for not less than
6 months before enter Thailand.
For travellers aged 50 years or
above wishing to take retreat in
Thailand at least for a period of
one year, their passports should
be valid not less than 18 months.
Passport holders of 39 countries,
including the USA, the UK, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and most
European and Southeast Asian countries
are automatically permitted to stay
in Thailand for 30 days on a tourist
visa status (no visa application
needed).
Passport holders from other 14
countries get 15-day temporary tourist
visa or visa on arrival. The visa
on arrival will be provided at 23
designated international checkpoints.
Applicants are required to attach
their 2.5-inches photograph with
their application form. The application
fee is THB 300. Visitors who enter
the kingdom with visa on arrival
generally cannot file an application
for extension of stay except in
special cases such as illness which
prevents them from traveling, etc.
They can submit an application at
the Office of Immigration Bureau
at Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road.
Visa extensions are available
at the Office of Immigration Bureau,
Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan
Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok
10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10
ext. 2264-5. Whatever your nationality
and travel plans, confirm entry
conditions.
More information about applying
for a Thai Visa
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#temp
or
http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm.
 Thai
Currency and Currency exchange
:
The Thai unit of currency is the
baht 1 baht is divided into 100
satang. Note are in denominations
of 1,000 (brown), 500 (purple),
100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green)
and 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist
of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht,
5 baht and 10 baht.
Major currency bills and travellers
cheques are cashed easily at hotels,
tourist shops, all provincial banks,
shopping centres and money changers.
Travellers cheques are best changed
in banks (you will need your passport).
Rates of exchange at banks or authorised
money changers are better than those
at hotels and department stores.
Any amount of foreign currency
may be brought into the country.
Visitors may take foreign currency
out of Thailand, but no more than
the amount stated in the customs
declaration made on arrival. Travellers
leaving Thailand may take out no
more than 50,000 baht per person
in Thai currency.
Credit Cards: Credit cards
are widely accepted. For lost cards,
contact
American Express Tel : 0 2273 5100
or 0 2273 0022
Diners Club Tel : 0 2238 2920 or
0 2238 2680
Master Card Tel : 0 2256 7326-7
Visa Tel : 0 2256 7326-7
Thailand Public Holidays
Thailand's national public holidays
are linked to religious or agricultural
traditions and follow the lunar
calendar, therefore the dates for
some of the holidays change each
year.
The following are national public
holidays in Thailand :
 New
Year's Day : Jan 1
Makha Bucha Day : late January to
early March
Chakri Day : April 6
Songkran Day : April 13
National Labour Day : May 1
Coronation Day : May 5
Visakha Bucha Day : May
Asanha Bucha Day : July
Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) : July
HM the Queen's Birthday : August
12
Chulalongkorn Day : October 23
HM the King's Birthday : December
5
Constitution Day : December 10
Note:
The above
mentioned details are the general
information and if you need to know
the exact information regarding
the government regulations e.g,
visa regulations, etc., please contact
the relevant authorities. We will
not be responsible for any damage
occurred from the stated information.
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