Tourism in Thailand

Tourism is a major economic factor in the Kingdom of Thailand, contributing an estimated 6.7% to Thailand's GDP in 2007 [http://www.bangkokpost.com/tourismreview2007/10.html] .

Overview

The tourism industry in Thailand truly took off when US soldiers started to arrive in the 1960s for "Rest and Recuperation" (R&R) during the Vietnam war period. [http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/56779/1/KJ00000132246.pdf] 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. [http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_c/mod16/uncom16t01.htm] 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 [http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2433/56779/1/KJ00000132246.pdf] 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. [http://www2.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_index.php] In 2006, Thailand was the 18th most visited country in the "World Tourism rankings" [ cite web|url=http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/barometer/unwto_barom07_2_en.pdf |title=UNTWO World Tourism Barometer, Vol.5 No.2 |accessdate=2008-03-26 |last=UNTWO |date=June 2007 |format=PDF ] with 13.9 million visitors. France, comparable to Thailand in size and population, led the list with over 79 million foreign tourists.

According to the "Tourism Authority of Thailand", [http://www.tourismthailand.org/about-tat/about-tat-47-1.html] 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 Britain, Germany, Scandinavia and the United States. The number of tourists arriving from the Middle East and Russia is on the rise. [http://www2.tat.or.th/stat/web/static_download.php?Rpt=ita] 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 back home.

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. [http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Police.html]

It can't be denied that 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 districts such as Pattaya, Patpong and Patong Beach. [http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/thailand.html]

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. These are especially aimed at Japan and South Korea, and in future, China and Taiwan.

The main marketing slogan for promoting Thailand internationally is "Amazing Thailand".

Attractions

Thailand offers a great variety of attractions. These include diving sites, sandy beaches, hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, exceptional flora and bird life, palaces and "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 and the curious "Phi Ta Khon" festival in Dan Sai. But for many people, just to be in Thailand for its friendly people and easy-going atmosphere is more than enough reason to visit.

Thai cuisine has become deservedly famous world-wide 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 (with CentralWorld being the biggest shopping mall in South-east Asia), 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, [http://cms.iucn.org/index.cfm?uNewsID=850] animals. The ""Pratunam Market"" down town, 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"". 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 and moat.

Climate

Most of Thailand has a "tropical wet and dry or savannah climate" while the South and the eastern tip of the East have a "tropical monsoon climate". [http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/]

The "cool dry season" from November till February is most excellent up north with temperatures in December for Chiang Mai 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.

The "hot dry season" from March till May can see daytime temperatures in the mid to high 30s and 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.

Deeper south on the Kra Isthmus, daytime temperatures the year round tend to hover around 31 Celsius with only a marked increase in rainfall during the monsoons. The west coast is affected by monsoon from May to October, the south-east coast of the isthmus is affected from October to January. [http://www.worldweather.org/089/m089.htm]

Major destinations

Southern Thailand
*Phuket
*Ko Samui

Central Thailand
*Bangkok
*Pattaya
*Kanchanaburi
*Ayutthaya

Northern Thailand
*Sukhothai
*Chiang Mai
*Chiang Rai
*Mae Hong Son
*Pai

North-eastern Thailand
*Khao Yai National Park
*Phimai historical park

See also

*Provinces of Thailand "Tourist attractions listed under each individual province"
*Transportation in Thailand
*List of Buddhist temples in Thailand
*Ethnic groups in Thailand
*History of Thailand
*Culture of Thailand
*List of national parks of Thailand
*List of mammals in Thailand
*List of birds of Thailand
*Diving in Thailand
*List of islands of Thailand
*Medical tourism in Thailand
*Public holidays in Thailand
*Cuisine of Thailand
*Farang "Thai word for a foreigner of European ancestry"
*Thai language
*Tinglish "Thai version of the English language"
*Muay Thai "Thai martial art of kickboxing"
*Dance of Thailand
*Thai silk
*List of shopping malls in Thailand
*Markets in Bangkok
*Geography of Thailand
*Banana Pancake Trail
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Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.tourismthailand.org/ Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)]
* [http://www.commonlanguageproject.net/?page_id=103 Negative consequences of tourist development in Thailand]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Thailand Travel information for Thailand in Wikitravel.org]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Thailand#Respect Dos and Don'ts for tourists at Wikitravel.org]
* [http://www.asiaing.com/20-things-to-do-in-thailand-travel-guide.html 20 things to do in Thailand]
* [http://www.bangkokpost.com English language Thai daily newspaper Bangkok Post]
* [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ English language Thai daily newspaper The Nation]
* [http://www.thaibirding.com/ Birdwatching in Thailand]
* [http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Police.html Tourist Police of Thailand]