The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia,
making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern
China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions :
the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the
Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau;
and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.
The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into
districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city
and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural
activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family,
with His Majesty the King recognized as Head of State, Head of the
Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all
religions.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri
Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a
century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand
embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud
history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a
never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international
visitors.
The mountainous North, with its profusion of multi-colored orchids,
fascinating native handicrafts and winter temperatures are
sufficiently cool to permit cultivation of temperate fruits such as
strawberries and peaches;
The high Northeast Plateau, which still jealously guards its many
archaeological and anthropological mysteries;
The Central Plain, one of the world's most fertile rice and
fruit-growing areas with colourful traditional culture and way of
life as well as the sandy beaches of the East Coast and vibrant
cosmopolitan Bangkok;
The peninsular South where the unspoiled beaches and idyllic islands
complement economically vital tin mining, rubber cultivation and
fishing.
Population:
Thais are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality.
Thailand is comprised of 63 million people, the majority of which is
ethnic Thai. About 11 million people (or 10% of the population) reside in the Bangkok.
People:
Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%), and the rest are minorities (Mons,
Khmers, hill tribes) Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area
has historically been a migratory crossroads, and has thus produced
a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that
culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Language:
Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual
visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in
Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English
and some European Languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and
restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai-English road and
street signs are found nationwide.
Religion:
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
Government:
Thailand has had a constitutional monarchy since 1932. Parliament is
composed of 2 houses, The House of Representatives and the Senate.
Both representatives and senators are elected by the people. A prime
minister elected from among the representatives leads the
government. The country is divided into 76 provinces. The Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration comes under an elected governor.
Appointed provincial governors administer the other 75 provinces (Changwat),
which are divided into districts (Amphoe), sub-districts (Tambon)
and villages (Mu Ban).
National Flag:
The National Flag of Thailand comprises of three colors:
Red - Thailand
White - Buddhism
Blue - Monarchy
Time Zone:
The time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7
hours GMT).
Temperature:
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).
Much lower temperatures are experienced in the North and Northeast
during nighttime. The South has a tropical rainforest climate with
temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius almost all year round.
Electricity:
The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the
country. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use.
Travelers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and
other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels
will make available 110-volt transformers.
Emergency Telephone Numbers:
Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) : 191
Highway Patrol : 1193
Crime Suppression : 195 or (662) 513 3844
Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken) : 1155
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre : 1672
