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Information about Thailand
Thailand and Thai people
Thais are often depicted as fun-loving, happy-go-lucky people. But they are also a proud and strong minded people with a fierce fighting spirit. They have struggled for centuries to retain their independence. Formerly known as Siam the country is now officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand (meaning the land of the free). Thailand has never been colonised by a foreign power. It has been influenced by foreign cultures and has developed to become a thoroughly modernised country. And yet, Thailand retains its own unique blend of contempory and traditional values and lifestyles. The ever-changing spirit of Thai culture remains dominant throughout the country. Around 65 million people live in Thailand. Thai is their primary language, while English is considered the secondary language of the elite. Other ethnic and regional dialects can also be found. About 75% of Thai citizens are ethnic Thai. Chinese (14%) and various other ethnic groups (11%) make up the rest. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist (95% of the population). Residing mainly in Thailand's deep south, close to the Malaysian border, a significant minority (around 4%) follow Islam. Other religions including Christianity, Hinduism, and other beliefs are practiced by the remaining 1% of the population.
Traveling in Thailand
Thailand is located in SE Asia, southeast of Burma, bordering the Andaman Sea, and the Gulf of Thailand. The climate is tropical with a warm SW monsoon from May to September and a cool NE monsoon from November to March. Thailand is unique in the region of SE Asia as the country extends some 1800 km from north to south. As such the country has a varied terrain with much to interest the traveller. This includes a central plain, picturesque mountains in the north and many exotic islands to the south. The country provides habitats for an astounding variety of flora and fauna. And there is a rich diversity in Thailand's many national parks. Over a third of Thai people live in urban areas and the capital, Bangkok, is by far the largest city. In Bangkok you will find a modern city moving to frenetic pace. Away from the capital are atmospheric ruins of ancient cities such as Ayuthaya. One can enjoy trecking in the mountainous north or take it easy in Thailand's tropical south. A perfect place to vacation, Thailand enjoys a traditional tolerance of other cultures. And all travellers to Thailand will appreciate the Thai tradition of friendliness and hospitality to strangers.
Thailand Politics and Economics
Thailand's political system is officially a constitutional monarchy. The King has no political power but in times of crisis the Thai people will look to their King for leadership. The prime minister is designated from the House of Representatives. Major political parties include the Democratic Party (DP) and the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT). A very fast rate of growth in the decade between 1985 and 1995 was followed by economic crisis. The Thai baht reached its lowest point in January 1998 and the economy contracted by over 10% that same year. Thailand entered a recovery stage in 1999 and has since been expanding steadily, mainly due to strong exports. Thailand is a large food exporter (including sugar, maize, pineapple, cotton and cooking oil) and the majority of the Thai labour force is agricultural. Manufactured goods are becoming increasingly important. In the south the main industries are fishing, tin mining, palm oil, rubber and tourism.
