Thailand Information

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).
See Phuket 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.