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Thailand study tourTRANSCRIPT
INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR REPORT
“No matter how far you journey you are always on home ground ON MOTHER
EARTH. And for hospitality she demands so little in return. That whenever we travel
we respect her landscape conserve her resources value her local traditions. It’s only if
we travel this way that we can gift our future the same green generous planet to
explore.”
Tourism is the greatest! Ahead of all other industries in economic contribution!
Tourism is one industry made up of many industries! Tourism is now a way of life!
Tourism essentially is an expression of natural human instinct for experience, adventure,
leisure, education, entertainment and others. Thus the definition according to Austrian
Economist, Herman.V. schullard defined in 1910 for tourism as “the sum total of operators
mainly of an economic nature which directly relate to the entry. Stay and movement of
foreigners inside and outside of certain country, city or region”
Tourism is traveling for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of
services to support this leisure travel. The World Tourism Organization definestourists as
people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than
one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an
activity remunerated from within the place visited". Tourism has become a popular global
leisure activity. Travel from the earliest times has held a fascination for mankind. The urge to
explore new places and seek a change of environment and experience is not new. Rapid
development in terms of transport and communication has made the whole world practically
one neighborhood and made travel easy.The tourism phenomenon has attracted almost the
entire world.It is a highly labor- intensive industry offering employment to both the
semiskilled and the unskilled. Being a service industry, it creates employment opportunities
for the local population. Many people less than a century ago considered a few hundred miles
a very long and tiring journey. Today millions seem to enjoy the prospect of moving from
one continent to another in matter of house number. Prosperity, leisure, coupled with the
quest for pleasure and recreation, are the principle motivating factors which sustain the
development of mass movement of people. This has in turn given rise to annual movement of
a large number of people from one country to another.
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Tourism encompasses not only travel for pleasure and holiday but also for wander-lust, heath,
business and trade, pilgrimage and social purposes, historical and geographical research,
educational studies and training, foreign affairs, other official functions and for many other
specified and unspecified purposes and motivations. Tourism is thus an important means of
promoting cultural exchanges and international Co-operation.Tourism is an important Human
activity of great significance. In addition to economic, it has socio-cultural, Educational and
political significance. Cultural tourism is a fertile ground for exercising creative talents,
fostering special kind of relations between the visitor and the host population, between the
tourist and the host environment. It enables the tourist to form a view of his present world and
a global concept of his historic past.Taken together, tourism can be considered to be a highly
complex phenomenon and as important human activity of great significance. It encompasses
economic, social, cultural, educational and political significance.
Now a day’s tourism is a major and fast growing industry of the world. It helps for earning
foreign exchange and providing employment. Today India has reached the stage of a
developed and leading tourist destination. India is a land of ancient mores of rich tradition of
cultural heritage that is today its major attractions. Tourism industry in India is worth
Rs.4000 crores and largest earner of foreign exchange and it provides employment to
5.3million people. Tourism provides an opportunity for cross cultural communication.
Tourism industry today is considered to be the world’s largest industry. The industry is
growing faster than the world economy on all counts gross output, value addition, capital
investment and employment. It is projected as the “Smokeless” industry. And has potential to
more than double its contribution to the world economy by the year 2005. In terms of
absolute numbers, the international tourist arrivals worldwide would increase from a mere 25
million in the year 1950 to about 937 million in the year 2010.
Meaning
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Tourism refers to travel or movement of people from one place to another temporarily
outside the place where they usually live and work and it refers to their activities in those
places where they stay (i.e. at those destinations). Tourism is a mixture of material and
psychological elements. The material elements here are attractions, accommodation,
transportation etc. and the motivation for travel, attitude, and expectations constitute the
psychological factors. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity.
Definition
One of the earliest definitions of tourism was provided by the Austrian economist in 1910,
who defined it as, "some total of operators, mainly of an economic nature, which directly
relate to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city
or a region".
In 1942, the Swiss Professors HUNZAIKER and KRAPT have defined Tourism as“the
totality of relationship and phenomenon arising from travel and stay of strangers, provided
that their stay does not imply the establishment of a permanent residence and is not connected
with a remunerated activity.”
According to The World Tourism Organization, Tourism is defined as “people who travel to
and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for
leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated
from within the place visited.”
The United Nations classified three forms of tourism in 1994 in its Recommendations on
Tourism Statistics:
Domestic tourism, which involves residents of the given country traveling only
within this country.
Inbound tourism, involving non-residents traveling in the given country.
Outbound tourism, involving residents traveling in another country.
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Domestic tourism plays a vital role in achieving the national objectivesof promoting social
and cultural cohesion and national integration. Itscontribution to generation of employment is
very high. With the increase inincome levels and emergence of a powerful middle class, the
potential for domestic tourism has grown substantially during the last few years
The UN also derived different categories of tourism by combining the 3 basic forms of
tourism:
Internal tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism.
National tourism, which comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism
International tourism, which consists of inbound tourism and outbound tourism.
STRUCTURE OF TOURISM INDUSTRY
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Regional and local Tourism industry National tourism
Tourism organization
Travel trade
Components/ Sectors
Accommodation Transportation Orgs. Travel trade Orgs Ancillary
Hotels Air Travel agency Recreation and enterprisesMotels Rail Tour Operator Entertainment Resorts Road Orgs.Other types of Sea/Water Public/Private Accommodation Service orgs.Eg, Youth hostels HealthHome stays etc, Insurance
Banking Finance Training and Development Tourism& hotel Education Industries
History
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National tourism organization
Regional and local tourism organization
Travel trade
Components
INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR REPORT
The word TOUR has been originated from the Latin word TORNUS which means “turning of
a wheel”. It refers to a circle or circuit and it also means around journey in which one returns
back to the originating or starting point.In 1643 the word tour as first used for travelling from
place to place, it stood for a journey, whether it was an excursion or pleasure or business, in
which one travels and visits a number of place I a circuit or sequence thus meaning a
“circular journey”.
The earliest forms of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and
Egyptian empires. A museum of “historic antiquities” was open to the public in the sixth
century BC in Babylon, while the Egyptians held many religious festivals attracting not only
the devout, but many who came to see the famous buildings and works of art in the cities.
The local towns accommodated tourists by providing services such as: vendors of food and
drink, guides, hawkers of souvenirs, touts and prostitutes. From around the same date, Greek
tourists travelled to visit the sites of healing gods. Because the independent city-states of
ancient Greece had no central authority to order the construction of roads, most of these
tourists travelled by water, hence seaports prospered.
The lands of the Mediterranean Sea produced a remarkable evolution in travel. People travel
for trade, commerce, religious purposes, festivals, medical treatment, or education developed
at an early date. Guidebooks became available as early as the fourth century BC, covering a
vast area of destinations, i.e. Athens, Sparta and Troy. Pausanias, a Greek travel writer,
produced a noted “description of Greece” between AD 160 and 180, which, in its critical
evaluation of facilities and destinations, acted as a model for later writers. Advertisements, in
the form of signs directing visitors to wayside inns, are also known from this period.
However, under Romans rule is where international travel became first important. With no
foreign borders between England and Syria, and with the seas safe from piracy due to the
Roman patrols, conditions favouring travel had arrived. Roman coinage was acceptable
everywhere, and Latin was the common language. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece,
Rhodes, and Troy, Egypt and from the third century AD, to the Holy Land. Domestic tourism
also flourished within the Roman Empire. Second homes were built by the wealthy within
easy travelling distance of Rome, occupied particularly during the springtime social season.
Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals.
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Before the sixteenth century, those who sought to travel had three modes in which to do so.
They could walk, ride a horse or they could be carried, either on a little or on a carrier’s
wagon. The development of the sprung coach was a huge advance for those who regularly
travelled, and by the mid 1600’s, coaches were operating regularly in Britain. In the
eighteenth century the introduction of turnpike roads, which provided improved surfaces for
which tolls would be charged. The later introduction of the metal, leaf spring suspension also
added to comfort. Travel also requires accommodation, and at that time, it was basic. To
accommodate the new demand for travel inns was provided. They provided fresh horses, and
lodgings were available for rent to visitors when they arrived at their destination.
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism developed as a direct outcome of
the freedom and quest for learning heralded by the Renaissance. Young men who wanted
positions at court were encouraged to travel to the Continent to finish their education. Others
soon adopted this practice in the upper echelons of society, and it soon became customary for
the education of a gentleman to be completed by a “Grand tour” of major cultural centres of
Europe, accompanied by a tutor and often-lasting three years or more. The appeal soon
became social, and leisure seeking young men travelled, predominantly to France and Italy,
to enjoy the rival cultures and social life of cities such as Paris, Venice, or Florence. By the
end of the eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalized for the gentry.
Passports have their origins in the medieval testimonial. A letter from an ecclesiastical
superior given to a pilgrim to avoid the latter’s possible arrest on charges of vagrancy. Later,
papers of authority to travel were more widely issued by the state, particularly during periods
of warfare with neighbouring European countries. Spas were already well established during
the time of the Roman Empire, but their popularity, based on the supposed medical benefits
of the waters, lapsed in the subsequent centuries. Renewed interest in the therapeutic qualities
of mineral waters has been ascribed to the influence of the Renaissance in Britain, and
elsewhere in Europe.
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SIGNIFICANCE OF TOURISM
Tourism as we understand the term today is of relatively modern origin. The tourism
phenomenon has attracted almost the entire world. Those responsible for managing affairs of
nations have almost universally recognized the economic advantages of tourism. It is very
important source of earning of foreign exchange.
Tourism is also being recognized as a source of employment. It is a highly lay out-intensive
industry offering employment to both the semi skilled and the unskilled. Being a service
industry it creates employment opportunities for the local population. This aspect of
provision of employment becomes more important in developing country where the level of
unemployment and under employment tends to be high. Besides providing employment to a
large number of people, tourism can be the instrument of regional policy aimed at achieving
an equitable balance between major industrial areas and the rest of the country.
Besides economic benefits to a country, tourism also makes a tremendous contribution of the
improvement of social and political understanding. Tourism has always stood as a unique
thing for the cultural propagation that it is necessary to a deeper understanding of peoples.
Tourism has always been an essential medium for broadening the limits of human
knowledge.
Tourism thus is a highly complex phenomenon. It becomes one of the pivotal concerns of
nations of international community. Tourism is unity because it involves industry without
smoke, education without classroom, indurations without legislation and diplomacy without
formality.
The importance of tourism was highlighted when the U N general assembly designated 1967
as the international tourist year. It recognized tourism as a basic and desirable human activity
deserving the price and encouragement of all people and government. The so called Manila
declaration supports the view that tourism is an activity essential to the life of nations because
of its direct effects on social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of societies.
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It stated in its conviction that the world tourism can contribute to the establishment of a new
international economic order that will help to eliminate the widening economic gap between
developed and developing countries and ensure the steady acceleration of economic, social
development and progress in particular of the developing countries.
Tourism is the world’s largest industry which has generated about U S $372.6 billion during
1995 by some 567 million tourists worldwide. In the same year, travel and tourism is said to
have provided direct and in direct employment of 212 million people account from 10.7% of
global work force. Tourism thus provides a major contribution to foreign exchange earnings
of several developing and even developed countries. In 1990 world tourism has generated
12% of the world’s G N P. Domestic tourism is assumed to be nine times greater than
International tourism.
Today, tourism is a major item of international trade and perhaps the biggest international
business activity after all. International tourism is the largest single item in the world‘s
foreign trade and for some countries it is already the most important export industry and
earner of foreign exchange.
By appreciating other people based on life and institutions, tourism may create good will for
a country. Tourists travel to participate in many events like conference, exhibitions etc...
There visits also provide an opportunity to improve cooperation as well as to project an
image of a country to the outside world. When tourists come in contact with other people
social exchange takes place. Tourists often carry back home with them the idea and a new
outlook on life.
Culture is tourism’s main attraction. Without culture to make the difference every place
would look the same. Without different cultural heritage, the places around the world would
have little to offer that would attract people for purpose of tourism. World heritage sites are
nothing but cultural sites.
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The main economic significance of tourism is money earned which is spent in places visited
by tourists and is common to all tourism power generated in receiving areas through the
expenditure of visitors who tend to spent at a much bigger rate than when they are at home.
International tourist expenditure introduces an additional aspect of economic significance as
different countries have to balance their transactions with the rest of the world. An
international tourism entry into the balance of payment accounts of individual countries and
is of major significance in international trade for countries which generate tourist traffic. It
also represents an import for countries receiving tourist traffic. Globally, tourism constitutes a
major item in world trade which is growing at much faster rate in recent years than world
trade in goods.Tourism is an integral part of modern life. As a force for social change,
tourism has an impact of the same order as the industrial revolution. In the last three decade,
tourism has transformed the world’s looks and work to a great extent.
International Tourism
International tourism is when people travel globally outside of their region and home country.
This means a temporary movement of people from the resident country to another country for
different reasons such as recreational, health,business or some other reason.
GLOBAL TOURISM SCENARIO
Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. For the past 30 years the travel and
tourism has grown 1 to 2 % faster than the global economy. One job out of every ten in the
global economy is linked to travel and tourism. Worldwide the industry employees around 80
million people directly and another 150 million indirectly. It accounts for 11 to 12 % global
gross domestic product which is worth $ 4.4 trillion in 1998.
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The number of tourist who visited a foreign country may rise from 612 million in 1997 to
over 3 billion by 2010. These tourists visited nearly every country. It is also said that no
region in the world remain tourist free in future. Not only will all regions receive tourist but
all kinds of new tourism programs will be developed. Adventure tourism, eco- tourism,
ethnic, war zone, space, business and conference tourism are all becoming major source of
income generators even in poor countries.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecasts that international tourism will
continue growing at the average annual rate of 4 %. By 2020 Europe will remain the most
popular destination, but its share will drop from 60 % in 1995 to 46 %. Long-haul will grow
slightly faster than intraregional travel and by 2020 its share will increase from 18 % in 1995
to 24 %.
With the advent of e-commerce, tourism products have become one of the most traded items
on the internet. Tourism products and services have been made available through
intermediaries, although tourism providers (hotels, airlines, etc.) can sell their services
directly. This has put pressure on intermediaries from both on-line and traditional shops.
Space tourism is expected to "take off" in the first quarter of the 21st century, although
compared with traditional destinations the number of tourists in orbit will remain low until
technologies such as a space elevator make space travel cheap.
Technological improvement is likely to make possible air-ship hotels, based either on solar-
powered airplanes or large dirigibles. Underwater hotels, such as Hydropolis, expected to
open in Dubai in 2006, will be built. On the ocean tourists will be welcomed by ever larger
cruise ships and perhaps floating cities.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
It involves travel across the boundaries of country if usual residence.
Usually need travel documents like passport, visa custom clearance etc.
Generally such checks are required while entering/departing from
countries visited.
International tourists new not necessarily share the culture ethos of
population in destination countries.
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International tourist normally require improved local conditions
They may demand better facilities and services than those existing at
destination.
Locally produced goods and services may not always satisfy the demand
of international tourists. They may demand products used in their own
countries leading to large scale investments/imports.
Brings additional income in terms of foreign exchange.
Rank Country
UNWTO
Regional
Market
International
Tourism
Receipts
(2009)
International
Tourism
Receipts
(2008)
International
Tourism
Receipts
(2007)
International
Tourism
Receipts
(2006)
1 United
States
North
America$93.9 billion $110.0 billion $97.1 billion $85.8 billion
2 Spain Europe $53.2 billion $61.6 billion $57.6 billion $51.1 billion
3 France Europe $49.4 billion $55.6 billion $54.3 billion $46.3 billion
4 Italy Europe $40.2 billion $45.7 billion $42.7 billion $38.1 billion
5 China Asia $39.7 billion $40.8 billion $37.2 billion $33.9 billion
6 Germany Europe $34.7 billion $40.0 billion $36.0 billion $32.8 billion
7 United Europe $30.0 billion $36.0 billion $38.6 billion $34.6 billion
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Kingdom
8 Australia Oceania $25.6 billion $24.8 billion $22.3 billion $17.8 billion
9 Turkey Europe $21.3 billion $22.0 billion $18.5 billion $16.9 billion
10 Austria Europe $19.4 billion $21.6 billion $18.9 billion$16.6 billion
World tourism statistics and rankings (Most visited countries)
CHAPTER 2
STUDY TOUR-AN INTRODUCTION
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A study tour is a travel experience with specific learning goals. The learning goals of each
study tour vary, but are always spelled out in the course syllabus that is distributed to each
learner. Study tours emphasize experiential learning and offer both group and self-directed
activities that enable learners to explore new territories, cultures, and people.
Study tours are designed for students mainly for educational purpose. You experience the
local cuisine, socialize freely, and make use of the local recreational and cultural resources of
the areas that we visit. However, study tours are NOT fun trips.
OBJECTIVES
To understand the international tourism.
To become familiar with International Tourism.
To identify Thailand as a tourist destination and to become familiar with its tourism
potentials such as attractions, accommodation, transpiration and other facilities.
To understand the cultural diversity of people in different places of Thailand.
To identify weakness of Thailand tourism and suggest relevant suitable
recommendation for its improvement.
Significance of the study tour
It helps in learning about the various travel formalities like customs, airport
formalities, travel documents etc involved in the international travel.
Study tour gives a practical experience of knowing a destination and other tourist
spots.
It provides scope for direct interaction with the public and learn about their culture
and lifestyle
It allows for self-assessment about the destinations and understanding the place with
personal views.
It allows to have the experience of international tourism.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY TOUR
The study tour was limited to the following places of BANGKOK and PATAYA.
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Bangkok:
Safari World & marine Park
Bangkok city tour
Shopping tour
Pattaya:
Coral island
Nong nooch village
Mar sriracha safari
Floating market.
STUDY TOUR PARTICIPATION
The participants involved in our study tour are:
Co-ordinator of the MTA department
Head Of The MTA Department
Tour guides
27Classmates
STUDY TOUR ITINERARY
SCOPE OF THE STUDY TOUR
The study tour was undertaken to 2 countries i.e. BANGKOK AND PATTAYA for 4 days
and 3 nights which were limited to following places
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PATTAYA – Visit to Nong Nooch Village
Coral Island Tour
Floating Market
BANGKOK – Safari World & marine Park
Bangkok city tour
STUDY TOUR ITINERARY
Pattaya & Bangkok 4days/3 nights study tour – KLE MTA Study Tour
Report at BIAL (Bangalore international airport) at 01:00 Hrs (01:00AM) on 24th March
2011
Day 1: 24th March 2012
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi International airport. Bangkok & transfer to pattaya, en route have
breakfast. Check into hotel in pattaya, later after lunch proceeds for coral island. Enjoy
abundant coral and underwater world. Overnight stay at resort
Day 2 : 25th March 2012
Departure to Bangkok en route visit Nong noch Village. After lunch proceed to Bangkok
“city of angels”. have dinner and overnight in resort.
Day 3 - 26th March 2012
After breakfast, proceed for full day tour of safari world & Marine Park. Lunch at safari
world and evening shopping at floating market.
Day 4 – 27th March 2012
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed for half day temple & city tour of
Bangkok. Leisure for shopping till departure transfer to suvarbhumi international airport.
Package includes
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Return economy airfare on Thai airways
1 night accommodation at Pattaya
2 nights’ accommodation at Bangkok
Return airport transfers
Nong nooch village
Safari world with marine park
Private Ac coach
Thailand single entry VISA
Package excludes
All entrance
Camera and video permits
Tips to guide
Any other expenses by clients
Hotel details:
Pattaya Bangkok
The green park resort Hotel all seasons Humark
North Pattaya, chonburi 200150 5 soi ramkamhaeng, road Humark 10240
Tel: +66 38426356 Tel: 6297 3087888
LIMITATIONS
Communication Constraints: Many local people could not understand English which
became a language constraint for us to communicate with them.
Lack of time to learn all tourism aspects of THAILAND.
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The study tour was only limited to few destinations caused to lack of knowledge
about other destinations
CHAPTER 3
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
The Methods of data collection which were used to complete this study tour report are;
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Primary data
Secondary data
Primary data
Primary data are those which are collected for the first time.
Methods used for collection of primary data are:
Observation at the destination:
By visiting to Bangkok and Pattaya and observing the tourist movements and facilities
at tourist centres.
By personally interviewing officials
Interaction with local residents
Comments given by the tour guide
Taking opinion Tourists at the destination.
Secondary Data
Secondary data are those which have already been collected by someone else and which have
already been passed through the statistical process.
Methods used for collection of secondary data
Books:
A.K. Bhatia- Tourism, Principles & Practices
A.K. Bhatia- International Tourism Management
Magazines:
Sarakadee magazine
Matichan weekly
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Kwan Ruen magazine
Bangkok recorder
Asian tribune
Brochures :
Creation holidays
Inter asia
Free style holidays
Asioquest tours
Nexus holidays
Websites:
www.tourismThailand .org
www.wikipedia.com
www.google.com
CHAPTER-4
VISIT TO THE
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DESTINATIONS
AN INTRODUCTION TO THAILND
ETYMOLOGY
The country's official name was Siam until 23 June 1939, when it was changed to Thailand. It
was then renamed Siam from 1945 to 11 May 1949, after which it was again, renamed
Thailand. Also spelled Siem, Syâm or Syâma, it has been identified with the SanskritŚyâma
The names Shan and A-hom seem to be variants of the same word, and Śyâma is possibly not
its origin but a learned and artificial distortion
The word Thai is not, as commonly believed,derived from the word Tai meaning "freedom"
in the Thai language; it is, however, the name of an ethnic group from the central plains (the
Thai people). A famous Thai scholar argued that Tai simply means "people" or "human
being" since his investigation shows that in some rural areas the word "Tai" was used instead
of the usual Thai word "khon" for people.
The Thai use the phrase "land of the free" to express pride in the fact that Thailand is the only
country in Southeast Asia never colonized by a European power. While the Thai people will
often refer to their country using the polite form Prathet Thai they most commonly use the
more colloquial word Mueang Thai or simply Thai the word mueang meaning nation but
most commonly used to refer to a city or town. Ratcha Anachak Thai means "Kingdom of
Thailand" or "Kingdom of Thai".
Etymologically, its components are: -Ratcha- (from Sanskrit raja, meaning "king, royal,
realm") ; -ana- (from Pāliāṇā, "authority, command, power", itself from Sanskrit ājñā, same
meaning) -chak (from Sanskrit cakra or cakraṃ meaning "wheel", a symbol of power and
rule). The Thai National Anthem composed and written by Peter Feit during the extremely
"patriotic" 1930s, refers to the Thai nation as: prathet-thai The first line of the national
anthem is: prathet thai ruam lueat nuea chat chuea thai) and was translated in 1939 by
Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandi as: "Thailand is the unity of Thai blood and body."
HISTORY
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The region known as Thailand has been inhabited by humans for at least 4,000 years. Similar
to other regions in Southeast Asia, it was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of
India, starting with the kingdom of Funan around the 1st century CE.
After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as
the various Tai, Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms, as seen through the numerous
archaeological sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to
the 12th century however, the first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the
Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, which was founded in 1238.
Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th–15th century, the Buddhist
Tai kingdoms of Sukhothai, Lanna and Lan Xang (now Laos) were on the ascension.
However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai was overshadowed by the new kingdom of
Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century in the lower Chao Phraya River or Menam
area.
Ayutthaya's expansion centred along the Menam while in the northern valley the Lanna
Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. In 1431, the Khmer abandoned
Angkor after the Ayutthaya forces invaded the city.Thailand retained a tradition of trade with
its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia and Arab lands. Ayutthaya became one of
the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the 16th century,
beginning with the Portuguese, followed by the French, Dutch and English.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, King Taksin the Great moved the capital
of Thailand to Thonburi for approximately 15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai
history began in 1782, following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the Chakri
dynasty under King Rama I the Great. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, "A quarter to a
third of the population of some areas of Thailand and Burma were slaves in the 17th through
the 19th centuries."
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Kosa Pan presents King Narai's letter to Louis XIV at Versailles, 1 September 1686
Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been
colonized.This has been ascribed to the long succession of able rulers in the past four
centuries who exploited the rivalry and tension between French Indochina and the British
Empire. As a result, the country remained a buffer state between parts of Southeast Asia that
were colonized by the two colonizing powers, Great Britain and France. Western influence
nevertheless led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably
being the loss of a large territory on the east side of the Mekong to the French and the step-
by-step absorption by Britain of the Malay Peninsula.
Geography
Totalling 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi),Thailand is the world's 51st-largest
country by total area. It is slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain.
Satellite image of flooding in Thailand in October 2011.
Thailand is home to several distinct geographic regions, partly corresponding to the
provincial groups. The north of the country is the mountainous area of the Thai
highlands,with the highest point being Doi Inthanon in the Thanon Thong Chai Range at
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2,565 metres (8,415 ft) above sea level. The northeast, Isan, consists of the Khorat Plateau,
bordered to the east by the Mekong River. The centre of the country is dominated by the
predominantly flat Chao Phraya river valley, which runs into the Gulf of Thailand.
Southern Thailand consists of the narrow Kra Isthmus that widens into the Malay Peninsula.
Politically, there are six geographical regions which differ from the others in population,
basic resources, natural features, and level of social and economic development. The
diversity of the regions is the most pronounced attribute of Thailand's physical setting.
The Chao Phraya and the Mekong River are the sustainable resource of rural Thailand.
Industrial scale production of crops use both rivers and their tributaries. The Gulf of Thailand
covers 320,000 square kilometres (124,000 sq mi) and is fed by the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong,
Bang Pakong and Tapi Rivers. It contributes to the tourism sector owing to its clear shallow
waters along the coasts in the Southern Region and the Kra Isthmus. The Gulf of Thailand is
also an industrial centre of Thailand with the kingdom's main port in Sattahip along with
being the entry gates for Bangkok's Inland Seaport.
The Andaman Sea is regarded as Thailand's most precious natural resource as it hosts the
most popular and luxurious resorts in Asia. Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Phang Nga and Trang
and their lush islands all lay along the coasts of the Andaman Sea and despite the 2004
Tsunami, they continue to be and ever more so, the playground of the rich and elite of Asia
and the world.
Plans have resurfaced of a logistical connection of the two bodies of water which would be
coined the Thai Canal, analogous to the Suez and the Panama Canal. Such an idea has been
greeted with positive accounts by Thai politicians as it would cut fees charged by the Ports of
Singapore, improve ties with China and India, lower shipping times and increase ship safety
owing to pirate fears in the Strait of Melaka and, support the Thai government's policy of
being the logistical hub for Southeast Asia.
The ports would improve economic conditions in the south of Thailand, which relies heavily
on tourism income, and it would also change the structure of the Thai economy moving it
closer to a services centre of Asia. The canal would be a major engineering project and has
expected costs of 20–30 billion dollars.
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The local climate is tropical and characterized by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and
cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast
monsoon from November to mid-March. The southern isthmus is always hot and humid.
RELIGION
Religion Composition
Religion Percent
Buddhism 94.6%
Islam 4.6%
Christianity 0.7%
Others 0.1%
The national religion is Theravada Buddhism. Thai Buddhism ranks amongst the highest in
the world. According to the last census (2000) 94.6% of the total population are Buddhists of
the Theravada tradition. Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand at 4.6%.
[1][70] Thailand's southernmost provinces – Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and part of
SongkhlaChumphon have dominant Muslim populations, consisting of both ethnic Thai and
Malay. The southern tip of Thailand is mostly ethnically Malay, and most Malays are Sunni
Muslims. Christians represent 0.7% of the population. A small community of Sikhs in
Thailand and some Hindus also live in the country's cities. There is also a small Jewish
community in Thailand, dating back to the 17th century
LANGUAGES
The official language of Thailand is Thai, a Tai–Kadai language closely related to Lao, Shan
in Burma, and numerous smaller languages spoken in an arc from Hainan and Yunnan south
to the Chinese border. It is the principal language of education and government and spoken
throughout the country. The standard is based on the dialect of the central Thai people, and it
is written in the Thai alphabet, an abugida script that evolved from the Khmer script. Several
other dialects exist, and coincide with the regional designations. Southern Thai is spoken in
the southern provinces, and Northern Thai is spoken in the provinces that were formally part
of the independent kingdom of Lannathai.
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Thailand is also host to several other minority languages, the largest of which is the Lao
dialect of Isan spoken in the northeastern provinces. Although sometimes considered a Thai
dialect, it is a Lao dialect, and the region in where it is traditionally spoken was historically
part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang. In the far south, Yawi, a dialect of Malay, is the
primary language of the Malay Muslims. Varieties of Chinese are also spoken by the large
Chinese population, with Teochew being best represented.
Numerous tribal languages are also spoken, including those belonging to the Mon–Khmer
family, such as Mon, Khmer, Viet, Mlabri and Orang Asli; Austronesian family, such as
Cham and Moken; Sino-Tibetan family such as Lawa, Akhan, and Karen; and other Tai
languages such as Nyaw, Phu Thai, and Saek. Hmong is a member of the Hmong–Mien
languages, which is now regarded as a language family of its own.
English is a mandatory school subject, but the number of fluent speakers remains very low,
especially outside the cities.
CULTURE
Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Indian, Lao, Burmese,
Cambodian, and Chinese.
Its traditions incorporate a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest
of Southeast Asia. Thailand's national religion Theravada Buddhism is important to modern
Thai identity. Thai Buddhism has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs
originating from Hinduism, animism as well as ancestor worship. The official calendar in
Thailand is based on the Eastern version of the Buddhist Era, which is 543 years ahead of the
Gregorian (western) calendar. For example, the year AD 2011 is 2554 BE in Thailand.
Several different ethnic groups, many of which are marginalized, populate Thailand. Some of
these groups overlap into Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia and have mediated change
between their traditional local culture, national Thai and global cultural influences. Overseas
Chinese also form a significant part of Thai society, particularly in and around Bangkok.
Their successful integration into Thai society has allowed for this group to hold positions of
economic and political power.
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Khon Show is the most stylised form of Thai performance.
The traditional Thai greeting, the wai, is generally offered first by the younger of the two
people meeting, with their hands pressed together, fingertips pointing upwards as the head is
bowed to touch their face to the hands, usually coinciding with the spoken word "Sawasdee
khrap" for male speakers, and "Sawasdee ka" for females. The elder then is to respond
afterwards in the same way. Social status and position, such as in government, will also have
an influence on who performs the wai first. For example, although one may be considerably
older than a provincial governor, when meeting it is usually the visitor who pays respect first.
When children leave to go to school, they are taught to wai to their parents to represent their
respect for them. They do the same when they come back. The wai is a sign of respect and
reverence for another, similar to the namaste greeting of India and Nepal.
Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is the national sport in Thailand and its native martial art call
"Muay". In the past "Muay" was taught to royal soldiers for combat on battlefield if unarmed.
After they retired from the army, these soldiers often became Buddhist monks and stayed at
the temples. Most of the Thai people's lives are closely tied to Buddhism and temples; they
often send their sons to be educated with the monks. "Muay" is also one of the subjects taught
in the temples.[71] Muay Thai achieved popularity all over the world in the 1990s. Although
similar martial arts styles exist in other Southeast Asian countries, few enjoy the recognition
that Muay Thai has received with its full-contact rules allowing strikes including elbows,
throws and knees.
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Thousands of Khom Fai in Mae Cho, Loi Krathong festivals Chiang Mai
Association football, however, has possibly overtaken Muay Thai's position as most widely
viewed and liked sport in contemporary Thai society and it is not uncommon to see Thais
cheering their favourite English Premier League teams on television and walking around in
replica kits. Another widely enjoyed pastime, and once a competitive sport, is kite flying.
Thai seafood curry, an example of Thai cuisine.
Thai cuisine blends five fundamental tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty. Some
common ingredients used in Thai cuisine include garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, and
fish sauce. The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known
as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal. Thailand is the world's largest
exporter of rice, and Thais domestically consume over 100 kg of milled rice per person per
year.[53] Over 5000 varieties of rice from Thailand are preserved in the rice gene bank of the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), based in the Philippines. The king of Thailand is
the official patron of IRRI.[72]
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Like most Asian cultures, respect towards ancestors is an essential part of Thai spiritual
practice. Thais have a strong sense of hospitality and generosity, but also a strong sense of
social hierarchy. Seniority is an important concept in Thai culture. Elders have by tradition
ruled in family decisions or ceremonies. Older siblings have duties to younger ones.
Taboos in Thailand include touching someone's head or pointing with the feet, as the head is
considered the most sacred and the foot the dirtiest part of the body. Thai society has been
influenced in recent years by its widely available multi-language press and media. There are
some English and numerous Thai and Chinese newspapers in circulation; most Thai popular
magazines use English headlines as a chic glamor factor. Many large businesses in Bangkok
operate in English as well as other languages.
Thailand is the largest newspaper market in Southeast Asia with an estimated circulation of at
least 13 million copies daily in 2003. Even upcountry, out of Bangkok, media flourishes. For
example, according to Thailand's Public Relations Department Media Directory 2003–2004,
the nineteen provinces of Isan, Thailand's northeastern region, hosted 116 newspapers along
with radio, TV and cable.
THAILAND TOURISM
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located
at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by
Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and
Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its
maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia
and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The country is a constitutional monarchy, headed by King Rama IX, the ninth king of the
House of Chakri, who, having reigned since 1946, is the world's longest-serving head of state
and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. The king of Thailand is titled Head of State,
Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all
Faiths.
Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of total area, with an area of
approximately 513,000 km (198,000 sq mi), and is the 20th-most-populous country, with
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around 64 million people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, which is Thailand's
political, commercial, industrial and cultural hub. About 75% of the population is ethnically
Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority
groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. The country's official language is
Thai. The primary religion is Buddhism, which is practiced by around 95% of the population.
Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995, and is presently a
newly industrialized country and a major exporter. Tourism also contributes significantly to
the Thai economy, as the country is home to a number of well-known tourist destinations,
including Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Ko Samui.
There are approximately 5.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand and the country
has also attracted a number of expatriates from developed countries
ATTRACTIONS
The Floating Market in Damneon Saduak
Bangkok has once been dubbed by the international community as the "Venice of the East,"
for its diverse network of canals, locally known as "Klongs." Since the reigns of King Rama
the 1st , the residents of Bangkok did a great deal of commuting by small boats on the
Klongs, similar to the way of life so characteristic of Venice for centuries long. Commerce
throughout Bangkok was often conducted on boats, and merchants would take their fresh
produces by boat each day to the so-called floating markets, where they would meet and
conduct trade. At the floating market, you will find all kinds of "floating shops," such as
floating fruit shops, floating flower shops, floating culinary and food shops, and much more.
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Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha
This famous temple, located next to the Grand Palace, is one of Bangkok's oldest and
largest temples. Wat Pho was conceived by King Rama I nearly 200 years ago as a
source of public education, providing information on subjects such as literature,
archaeology, astrology and medicine, and is therefore sometimes called :Thailand's
First University". The chapel houses the gigantic gold-plated Reclining Buddha,
which is 46 metres in length an 15 metres high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl
soles depicting the 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha.
The temple is also the headquarter for the Traditional Medicine Practitioners of
Bangkok. there are stone plaques and inscriptions describing treatment for various
ailments and methods of massage and meditation. Thai-style massage is available in
two open plan areas within the temple grounds.
Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Sri Racha County north of Pattaya City, only 30 min. drive from Pattaya.
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The greatest tiger zoo in a natural atmosphere where you can hold, feed and take photos with
baby tigers. Watch a sow breast-feeding tiger cubs. Make some new friends as you pet and
feed camels, deer, elephants, donkey and especially the tiger cubs. Try your accuracy at the
shoot’n feed, shoot the target and feed the tigers. Witness the excitement of the Crocodile
show.
Alangkarn
Modern-Thai Multi Dimension Extravaganza Show
Located on Sukhumvit Road, Km. 155. The Alangkarn Theatre is a splendidly designed
gigantic theatre with a capacity of 2,000 seats.
Featuring the Hexa Stage with a length of 70 m., the theatre presents extravaganza shows
with modern light & sound technique and pyrotechnics. Besides, there are cultural plaza,
souvenir shop and large restaurant serving Thai and international buffets.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden & Resort
Located about 18 kilometers from South Pattaya, it is best-known as the most beautiful
garden in Southeast Asia. The entire area of some 500 acres is beautifully landscaped with an
orchid nursery as well as other tropical and botanical gardens. Experience various kinds of
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fascinating and impressive Thai cultural and tradition performances, mini zoo and elephant
shows.
Underwater World Pattaya
Situated on Sukhumwit Road near South Pattaya, Underwater World Pattaya is a leisure
attraction showcasing more than 200 species of marine life to be found around the region.
Here visitors are taken on a 'voyage to the bottom of the sea', which begins at the sandy
beaches and shallow rock pools at the water's edge.
(Photo by courtesy of TAT) (Photo by courtesy of TAT)
From here, they start their descent, passing brightly coloured corals and all kinds of exotic
ocean-dwellers along the way. Finally they come to a spectacular 100-metre long tunnel with
acrylic windows, home to great shoals of fish, prowling predators and a host of other
creatures that inhabit the ocean depths.
Pattaya Floating Market
Pattaya Floating Market is the world’s largest floating market located on an area of about
100,000 sq m on the outskirt of Pattaya. It is divided into four parts representing the cultural
heritage of the four regions of Thailand. Scattered on the fresh water swamp are islands of
various sizes and many Thai style teakwood houses linked together with wooden bridges.
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Every day over 80 paddle boats are ready to take visitors on tour to see Thai style
architecture, traditional ways of life and waterborne vendors paddling their boats selling
freshly cooked food. There are restaurants and more than 100 boutique shops offering
handicrafts and souvenirs from all over the country. Exquisitely carved image of Ganesh, the
Hindu god with an elephant head and some rare pieces of carved wood are exhibited at The
Woodcarving Museum. Thai cultural shows, martial art demonstrations such as the water
boxing, and many activities are also performed daily.
ACCOMMODATION
Thailand has great lodging for anyone on any budget. If looking for exclusive resorts,
Thailand has it. Looking for a bamboo and straw hut on the side of a remote beach, Thailand
has it. In recent years some of the more popular backpacker locations have started to become
more expensive, therefore making the more adventurous backpackers go to more remote
islands or coastlines. Eventually as those places become more popular they will become more
expensive too. This is just the story of Thailand. In general even in more upscale places it is
still possible to find good cheap accommodation on a beach, near a beach or near the city
center.
Many of the guesthouses geared towards backpackers have very relaxed attitudes to most
things like booze, drugs and sex. This attitude even extends to payment which is not strictly
taken at exact times but will always be collected eventually. Remember to watch your room
tab closely because they have been known to rise very quickly as more meals are eaten and
beers are drank at the guesthouse.
Food is rather cheap in Thailand if you stick to local food. Most dishes are served with rice
but it is also possible to find different kinds of noodles. There is one basic truth about Thai
food: it is spicy! Chilies are added to almost everything and you will normally also find dried
chili or fish sauce with chili on each table in a restaurant. The exception from this truth is
noodles. Noodle dishes are normally non-spicy. Noodles are served as dry noodles and wet
noodles and in different sizes. Wet noodles (when the noodles are served in a soup) can be
very refreshing in the middle of a hot day. Some of the major hotels in Thailand are:
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The Dusit Thani (Next to Embassy)946 Rama IV RoadBangkok 10500Tel.: +66 (0) 2236-9999Fax: +66 (0) 2223-6400Website: www.dusit.comEmail: [email protected]
Deluxe Single/Twin: Baht 3,900++ Rates are inclusive of American breakfast
Royal Orchid SheratonHotel & Towers Bangkok(On Chao Phraya river)2 Captain Bush Lane, Siphya,Bangkok 10500Tel.: +66 (0) 2266-0123Fax: +66 (0) 2236-8320Website: www.sheraton.com/bangkokEmail: [email protected]
Deluxe Premier Single: Baht 4,100++ Deluxe Premier Double: Baht 4,500++ Rates are inclusive of American breakfast
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit250 Sukhumvit Road,Bangkok 10110Tel.: +66 (0) 2649-8888Fax: +66 (0) 2649-8000Website: www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.comEmail: [email protected]
Deluxe Single/Twin/Double: Baht 5,500++
ACTIVITIES
Bangkok:
Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River.
Bangkok's Grand Palace Complex and Wat Phra Kaew Tour.
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Bangkok Small-Group Bike Tour.
Safari.
Pattaya:
Parasailing in Pattaya.
Elephant Riding in Pattaya.
Under water walk in Coral islands.
Speed boat ride.
AMENITIES
Shopping: Shopping is another important amenity for a tourist in a destination. It is a
favorite pastime for residents and also for the tourists. There are many of modern malls and
shopping centers as well as the more ethnic shops in Chinatown and Little India with their
street stalls and markets.
Provision of clean sanitation facilities in the destinations.
Shopping in Thailand
Shopping in Bangkok is an experience to thrill and delight the most discerning of shoppers -
whatever it is you're looking for. From the gleaming chrome and towering size of modern,
air-conditioned malls, to the hustle and bustle of its famously buzzing street markets,
Bangkok has all kinds of places to blow your baht. With everything from antiquities and the
latest pair of trainers to designer jewellery available, Bangkok has an equally exhaustive, and
potentially exhausting, variety of things to buy.
Accessibility
Transport in Thailand is varied and chaotic, with no one dominant means of transport. Bus
transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural
areas for short trips, supplanting bicycles. Road transportation is the primary form of freight
transport across the country. Slow rail travel has long been a rural long distance transport
mechanism, though plans are underway to expand services with high speed rail lines
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extending to several major regions of Thailand. Domestic air transport, which until recently
had been dominated by a select few air carriers, has recently seen a surge in popularity due in
large part to the expanding services of low cost carriers. In Bangkok, Pattaya, and other large
cities, public motorbike taxis take people door to door. An overwhelming number of taxis can
also be found in Bangkok. Since the country's first rapid rail transit line opened in 1999 in
Bangkok, daily ridership on Bangkok's various transit lines has risen to over 800,000, with
multiple additional lines either under construction or being proposed. Private automobiles,
whose rapid growth contributed to Bangkok's notorious traffic congestion over the past two
decades, has risen in popularity, especially among tourists, expats, upper class and a growing
middle class. A motorway network across Thailand has been gradually implemented, with
motorways completed in Bangkok and most of central Thailand. Areas with navigable
waterways often have boats or boat service, and many innovative means of transport exist
such as tuk-tuk, vanpool, songthaew, or even elephants in rural areas.
Road transport in Thailand
Motorway 9 Toll Section
Total: 64,600 km
Paved: 62,985 km
Unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
Thai highway network
The Thai highway network links every part of Thailand. The four lane highways often have
overhead concrete pedestrian crossings interspersed about every 250 meters in populated
areas. There are no on and off ramps, highways are separated by median with breakage for U-
turns, except in Bangkok where ramp style U-turns predominate.
A number of undivided two lane highways have been converted into divided four-lane
highways, greatly enhancing safety and speed. A Bangkok - Chon Buri motorway (Route 7)
now links to the new airport and Eastern Seaboard.
Bus service
Buses are a major method of transportation for people and packages, and are the most popular
means of long distance travel. Tour and VIP class long-distance buses tend to be luxurious,
while city- and other-class buses are often very colorful with paint schemes and advertising.
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Bangkok city buses come in various sizes, types, and prices, from half size, full size, double
length, open window, fan, and air conditioned.
Alternative transport
Includes tuk-tuk, taxi, van (minibus), motorbike taxi, songthaew, boats (in canals and rivers).
Air transport
Major international airports
Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) (Old Bangkok Int'l)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) (New Bangkok Int'l)
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)
Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)
Phuket International Airport (HKT)
Waterways
Principal waterways: 3,999 km
3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year.
Numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft, such as long-
tailed boats.
CHAPTER-5
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
STUDY
COMPARITIVE STUDY BETWEEN INDIA AND THAILAND
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FEATURES INDIA THAILAND
Official name Republic of India Kingdom of Thailand
Capital New Delhi Bangkok
Currency Rupee Baht
Religion Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity
Buddhist and Muslim.
IntroductionIndia's coastline stretches over a distance of seven thousand kilometers. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Indian Ocean in the South. Comprising twenty-eight states, seven Union Territories and one National Capital Territory, Delhi, India is the seventh-largest country of the world. With a population of 1,210,193,422, India is the second-most populated country in the world.The diverse religion, cultures, customs, languages and religions portray a colorful picture of India. As a result of this many tourists are attracted to visit India and experience its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Today, India is the one of the most famous tourist destinations of the world. It possesses immense natural beauty and the beautiful cities with historical monuments are representative of India 's rich architecture and craftsmanship.
Sporting the name of Siam until the 11 th of May 1949, Thailand is the only country in the southeastern region of the continent of Asia to escape European colonization. The prevalent constitutional monarchy in the country was established in the year 1932.
In Thai, the word "Thai" translates as 'free'; so, Thailand means 'a free land'. The country is a bustling tourist and business destination, ranking as one of the world's best. The chief cities in Thailand are NakhonRatchasima, NakhonSawan, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla.
Location India is bound on the north by Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Bhutan; on the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), and the Bay of Bengal; on the south by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar (which separates it from Sri Lanka) and the Indian Ocean; and on the west by the
Thailand is located in the south eastern region of the continent of Asia, missing the Equator by a little. Its immediate political neighbors are the countries of Myanmar to the north and the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The water bodies that skirt Thailand are the
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Arabian Sea and Pakistan. Mekong River in the west that forms Thailand's natural boundary with Laos, Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and the Indian Ocean and the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
Climate Most of the parts in India have a tropical or subtropical climate, with little variation in temperature between seasons. The northern plains, however, have a greater temperature range, with cooler winters and hotter summers. The mountain areas have cold winters and cool summers. As elevations increase sharply in the mountains, climate type can change from subtropical to polar within a few miles.
The climate of Thailand is very coastal and very Equatorial: hot and humid with little or no temperature and seasonal demarcations. Though there are land elevations in the interior northern regions of the country, one cannot expect the temperature to be more that 10°s less that the other regions of the country. The cooler season, which is mild and pleasant, occurs between October and February. Summers are from March to May; July till September lasts the monsoons.
Flora And Fauna of India
The flora of India is made up of around 45,000 species of plants, 33 percent of which are native. There are 15,000 flowering plant species, accounting to 6 percent of the world's total flora. Out of these, about 3,000 to 4,000 are believed to be in danger of extinction.
The fauna of India is made up of almost 5,000 species of larger animals. Tiger, panther, Asiatic lion, Asiatic cheetah, snow leopard, jungle cat, and clouded leopard can be found is some parts of the country. Besides this, India is home to elephants, rhinoceros (presently under threat of extinction), black bear, wolf, jackal, dhole (wild Asian dog), wild buffalo, wild hog, antelope, and deer. Several species of monkeys live throughout the country. The pygmy hog, bandicoot rat, and tree mouse are typical types of smaller native quadrupeds; bats are also abundant. Venomous reptiles, including the cobra, krait, and saltwater snake, are especially numerous in India, and pythons and crocodiles are also found. Tropical birds of India include the parrot, peacock, kingfisher, and heron. The rivers and coastal waters of India are filled with fish.
Thailand has as much diversity in its flora and fauna as it has in its landscape and people. The plants in Thailand belong to species which are mostly considered typical of the varieties found in the south east of the Asian continent. So, the chief types of fauna to be found are the hardwood types, like teak; then there are pines, mangroves, bamboos, rattan/canes, betel, plantains/bananas and coconut palms. Exotic flowers too are to be found in the Thailand. In the fauna category, the animals that form the list are the wild cattle, rhinoceroses with one horn, otter, deer, civet cat, tapirs, gibbon, bear, wild hogs, and different types of monkeys. The domesticated variety of animals is sheep, goats and oxen. The reptile fauna of Thailand includes species of snakes, crocodiles, lizards and turtles. Aside of these there are also some 600 species of birds, excluding migratory varieties, in the country; multitudes of fish and diverse types of butterflies.
People Owing to its ability to adopt people from all types of background, India is home to diverse population. The country had inherited a civilization that began more than 4,500 years
The Thais are one mingled race. Though the dominant people are the Thais, the other ethnic influences that comes a close second are that of Indian and Chinese. Most of
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ago. They are culturally diverse and religion plays an important role in each one's life. About 83 percent of the people practice Hinduism. Another 12 percent are Muslims, and millions of others are Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. India does not have any national language. Hindi has the largest number of speakers and is the official language of the government. English is also used as a used "subsidiary official language"; it is used for educational, business and administrative purposes. The eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes twenty-two regional languages as official Indian languages.
Thailand's culture, tradition, practices and also its people are imbued with these two prime external influences. The other ethnic races that make a significant difference to the populace of Thailand are the Malays, the Mon, the Khmer, the Laotians, the Lawa, the Hmong, the Akha, the Mien, the Lisu, the Karen, the Lahu and the Tai. As a result of this, there is not even a special physical trait that is uniquely Thai.
Art, Culture and Music
India boasts of a rich cultural heritage. The music and dance of the country is based on the NatyaShastra, a form of Sanskrit music and dance that was practiced during the 2nd century AD. The music can be divided into the North Indian Hindustani style and the South Indian Carnatic (Karnatak) style. Dance is also a major art form in India. The major classical dance forms include BharataNatyam, Kathak, Manipuri, and Kathakali. As far as Indian art goes, its architecture, sculpture, and painting have developed many distinct styles over the centuries and is widely accepted all over the world. Most of the designs have religious touches to it.
he types of art to be found in Thailand can be branded under the heads of performing arts, literary arts and visual arts. The two most important external influences to Thai art come from China and India. Either way, Buddhist images dominate expressions and representations. The Thais have a detailed social and cultural code, whether be it for conduct or for actions. They strictly follow a very traditional form of greeting called the "Wai", which is prayer-like bow. Thai music is chiefly influenced by Chinese and Indian styles, with extra additions from its neighbors like Laos. The classical music of Thailand is called the "Piphat".
Flag The flag of India has three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom. The white band has a blue chakra that consists of twenty-four spokes.
Thailand has a simple rectangular flag comprised of the colors blue, red and white. The flag also has a name; it is called the "Thong Trairong" meaning 'tricolor flag'. There are five horizontal stripes running from end to end of the flag. The red and the white stripes are equal in width while the central blue stripe is double in width to the red or the white. On the top and the bottom of the broad blue stripe is one white stripe each, and next to the white stripes are the red ones. The colors in the flag are representative of the unspoken motto of Thailand - namely 'Nation-Religion-King'.
Economy Since its independence from the British rule in 1947, India has been
There are several factors contributing to the economy of Thailand. Of
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making considerable progress in the economic sector. Under the British, the cottage industries and the then thriving trades of India were virtually destroyed due to import of European manufactured goods, which the government paid for with the exports of agricultural products such as cotton, opium, and tea.
Finally, when India was free, it began concentrating on the agricultural sector. Later on, the country began investing in the industrial sector and infrastructure, laying emphasis on railways and irrigation works. Policies of economic liberalization introduced in the late 1970s stimulated the industrial sector, leading to an acceleration of economic growth in the 1980s.
In the mid-1990s, the service sector began to govern the economy. Although the economic structure of the country began to change, with services providing a larger portion of the GDP than any other sector, agriculture provided maximum employment to the people.
In 2011 India's annual gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity was $4.469 trillion. Services made up 55.2% of the GDP, followed by industry (including manufacturing, mining, and construction) at 26.3%; while agriculture accounted for 18.5% of the gross domestic product.
theses, tourism plays a major role. However, it is not the sole revenue bringing source. Thailand has several bankable natural resources. Some of them are timber, rubber, natural gas, lignite, tungsten, lead, tantalum, gypsum and Fluorite. The thriving marine life around the country is beneficial for the fishing industry. Also, Thailand is blessed with an arable land. So, the things that you will find growing in Thailand are coconuts, rice, corn, tapioca, sugarcane, rubber and soybeans. Among the things that are manufactured, most of the products are exported. Exports, apart from the mineral resources, include garments, beverages, food processing, cement, tobacco, integrated circuits, jewelry, electric appliances, furniture, computers and parts, plastics, automobile parts.
Language Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%
Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Improvement to develop and promote tourism
- Making the marketing tools and
promotional tools strong
- Employ trained personnel
- Make the programs act as catalyst
in investments by private bodies
- Propounding projects and programs
- Create a new image in world
tourism
- Enhance branding and promotion
schemes
- Thailand need to promote its food
industry
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at the international level
- Carry out research work for the
betterment of the Tourism industry
- Infrastructure development
- Improve foreign exchange facilities
- Employee trained personnel with
knowledge of English
- Promotion should include ancient
monuments
Medical tourism India is very famous for its medical tourism. The people from Western countries come to India for medical treatment as it is very cheap and also offers standard care. Along with Allopathy, India provides treatments such as Ayurveda and also Homeopathy which attract many people to India throughout the World.
Thailand is a state deserving of its reputation for cleanliness, order and its ultra-high standard of private medical care and also the medical tourism is very expensive in Thailand as compared to India.
Tourism-General Information
Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. In 2010, total Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India were 5.78 million and India generated about 200 billion US dollars in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$375.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. The majority of foreign tourists come from USA and UK. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are the top five states to receive inbound tourists. Domestic tourism in the same year was 740 million. Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra received the big share of these visitors
Tourism is a major economic factor in the Kingdom of Thailand, contributing an estimated 6.7% to Thailand's GDP in 2007Tourist numbers have grown from 336,000 foreign visitors and 54,000 R&R soldiers in 1967 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. In 2007, Thailand was the 18th most visited country in the World Tourism rankings with 14.5 million visitors. France, comparable to Thailand in land area and population, led the list with nearly 82 million foreign visitors
Attractions Major attractions in India are
the world's highest mountains,
miles of coastline with
excellent beaches, tropical
forests and wildlife, desert
safari, lagoon backwaters,
ancient monuments, forts and
palaces, adventure tourism
and, of course, the Taj Mahal.
Thailand offers a great variety of
attractions. These include diving
sites, sandy beaches, hundreds, varied
night-life, archaeological sites,
museums, hill tribes, exceptional
flora and bird life, palaces, a huge
amount of Buddhist temples and
several World Heritage sites.
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Accessibility The present transport system of India comprises several modes of transport including rail, road, coastal shipping, air transport, etc. Transportation in India has recorded a substantial growth over the years both in spread of network and in output of the system. Transportation in India is growing with each passing day to offer the tourists more options in terms of the means of the transport as well as better quality during the period of traveling.
Transport in Thailand is varied and chaotic, with no one dominant means of transport. Bus transport dominates in long distances and Bangkok, with motorbikes dominating in rural areas for short trips, supplanting bicycles. Road transportation is the primary form of freight transport across the country. Slow rail travel has long been a rural long distance transport mechanism, though plans are underway to expand services with high speed rail lines extending to
several major regions of Thailand. Domestic air transport, which until recently had been dominated by a select few air carriers, has recently seen a surge in popularity due in large part to the expanding services of low cost carriers.
Accommodation The subject of accommodation
in India is incomplete without
the mention of the most
popular chain of hotels, the Taj
Group of Hotels. The Taj
brand stands for five star
hotels established throughout
the country and are one of the
oldest brands in the industry.
Apart from the Taj group of
hotels, the other leading
hospitality brands that
dominate the accommodation
in India include the Ashok
Group, Oberoi Group of
Hotels and Le Meridian
Hotels. Apart from these
hotels, the resorts too are
gradually making a mark of
their own. Several of the
resorts are located in the most
Thailand is famous among
international travelers for its
unmatched traditional hospitality and
services. Hotels in Thailand offer
world-class accommodation and
business facilities, promising
comfort, hospitality and courteous
service for the guests. AsiaRooms
provides online hotel booking for a
wide range of hotels in Bangkok,
Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and
other big and small cities of Thailand
at special discounted rates.some of
the best hotels in Thailand are:
The Sunset Beach Resort
& Spa
Chatrium Hotel
Riverside Bangkok
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pristine locations and forests.
The tourist can enjoy the
beauty and essence of nature
along with the most state-of-
the-art facilities.
Activities and amenities
Since India is a developing country still, the the first class amenities or so called the high-end amenities may not be found in all the tourist destinations. But all the metro cities in the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore etc provide excellent tourist amenities like shopping malls, cinema theatres, golf clubs, casinos, pubs, star restaurants, coffee shops, discos etc. Mumbai is one of the most happening cities in India which is in a party mood throughout the year. Shopping can be fun in India. You will find various art pieces, which have great aesthetic value and can be a great keep sake and decoration for your house. You can get pieces from Rajasthani culture, South Indian culture, and East Indian culture. Every culture further has its own diversity and thus the product range turns out to be a galaxy of diversity and craft.Nightlife
India has a great nightlife. It also has
great diversity, you can choose from
a happening rock party to a soothing
Thailand with its diverse culture, charming lifestyle and beautiful scenery is a attractive tourist destination. There is a lot to do in Thailand. Besides the regular site seeing, you can also shop all through your vacations. Shopping in Thailand is enormous fun, and the amount of variety Thailand offers is sure to make you indecisive. Thailand has countless shopping arcades and interesting spots to shop. The world famous Glitzy Nightlife of Thailand is sure to interest all living life on the fast lane. Dance all night at the nearest disc and later indulge in the go-go bars fun.If you are the sporty kind and prefer a
rigorous holiday in Thailand, all you
need to do is choose your area of
interest in this field. Thailand gives
way to all your love for the game, be
it adventure sports or water sports,
soothing golf or vigorous tennis you
name it they have it. You can also
learn Thai boxing or venture into the
deep divine sea, one in all and all in
one, Thailand is the name of the
game.
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ghazal mehfil. There are number of
pubs and lounges which can be a
great chilling out hangout. Concerts
are frequent events in India. You can
attend a classical music program or
also a dance program. It is not just
classical but India has also become a
popular destination for artists from
west.
Infrastructure India provides average
infrastructure facilities but not
throughout the country as the
country is dispense, hence
some places in India are highly
developed and some places are
not developed.
The City Thailand is very well
maintained city. If the people
disobey the rules of the place,
then they will be punishable.
Thailand has excellent high
standard infrastructure
facilities like accommodation,
airport, modes of
transportations.
Main key points of government tourism policies.
1.Ensure that the type and
scale of tourism development
is compatible with the
environment and socio-cultural
milieu of the area.
2.Ensure that the local
community is fully involved
and the benefits of tourism
accrue to them.
3.Facilitate availability of
trained manpower particularly
from amongst the local
population jointly with the
1.Use Thai uniqueness as the
country’s selling point while
establishing a brand image for
each region and push them to
be developed accordingly.
2.Present the products from
different points of view in
order to meet the tourists’
demands due to fact that 5
percent of tourist visitors to
Thailand are repeaters.
3.Promote international sports
events as a major tourist
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industry.
4.Undertake research, prepare
master plans, and facilitate
formulation of marketing
strategies.
5.Organise overseas promotion
and marketing jointly with the
industry.
6. Facilitate the growth of a
dynamic tourism sector.
activity.
4.Develop an integrated
management of information,
public relations and customer
relations through the use of
information technology.
Promotional Tourism Slogan
“Incredible India” “Amazing Thailand”
Transportation stats: India vs. Thailand
Indian Transportation stats
Thai Transportation stats
Aircraft departures 214,300 102,400Ranked 19th. 109% more than Thailand Ranked 33rd.
Air transport, freight > million tons per km 773.22 million tons/km 2,002.42 million tons/km
Container port traffic 4,938,226 TEU 5,115,213 TEU
Investment in transport with
private participation
2.7 $ per $1,000 of GDP 1.6 $ per $1,000 of
GDP
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> current US$ (per $ GDP)
CHAPTER-6
SWOT ANALYSIS OF THAILAND
STRENGTHS Gateway to Asia
Thailand enjoys a strategic location at the heart of Asia. Home to what is regarded today as
the largest growing economic market. Thailand serves as a gateway to Southeast Asia and the
Greater Mekong sub-region, where newly emerging markets offer great business potential.
From Thailand, it is convenient to trade with China, India and the countries of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has a cumulative population of
more than 500 million.
Friendly and rich culture
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Thailand has gained a well-known reputation throughout the world for its gracious
hospitality. The friendliness of its people and the diverse nature of Thai culture make visitors
feel at home in Thailand.
Shopping in Thailand
Over the years Thailand has truly developed world-class city for shoppers. Whether it’s a
gleaming mall packed with designer labels or a relaxed stroll through a vibrant market full of
exotic goods, colorful textiles and handmade jewellery.
Thailand festival and events
Seekers of the exotic, seekers of adventure, heritage fans, culture marvellers, photographers,
lovers, naturalists, luxury seekers and hedonists – a population that seeks the wonders of the
earth finds its way to Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organizes special
events around the theme of the famous “Thai” smile in a bid to rebuild the good image of
Thai tourism. All the events were designed to help restore the liveliness of the Thailand to
rebuild confidence among foreign tourists and promote domestic tourism.
Some of the events and festivals are:
1) THAILAND INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL
2) PATTAYA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
3) LAMDUAN FLOWER FESTIVAL
WEAKNESSES
The AIDS Factor
The rapid spread of AIDS in Thailand has had a decided impact on the tourism
industry in that the country's reputation for having a high incidence of AIDs
discourages desirable tourists from visiting it. Likewise the tourism industry has had
considerable impact on the spread of AIDS in Thailand. Thailand has long been
promoted as the "sex capital" of the world; encouraging tourists to come to Thailand
specifically for this reason obviously brings a higher transmission of the disease from
sources both inside and outside the country.
Public Sector Input—Infrastructure Maintenance and Development
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The development of the tourism industry in Thailand and the comparative advantages
which have been created through it are mostly a result of private sector investment
and efforts. The public sector has not been active in upgrading infrastructure e.g.,
roads, telecommunications, water facilities to keep abreast with the industry's growth
and to assure the industry's long-term stability. In certain areas, water allocation,
waste disposal and the safety standards of public facilities are inadequate for the local
population, let alone tourists visiting their villages or towns. Heavy traffic congestion
in Bangkok is undoubtedly seen as a drawback by people contemplating a visit to
Thailand.
Tourism facilities and services
There are insufficiencies of standardized lodgings which are harmonious with nature.
Lacks of good plan, Rooms are not available in high seasons or vacant in low seasons..
Tourism information service is not updated. Some information is delayed. Many
provinces lack of tourist guides who are excellent in foreign language communication.
Related authorities in all levels both central and local areas still lack of knowledge and
understanding in tourism service and management system.
OPPURTUNITIES
Better access through budget carriers: Thailand tourism has been vastly improved
by the advent of budget airlines which are able to profitable serve destinations with
low cost carriers.
Youth travel: youth travel within the country and possibly within the region will not
only boost Asian cohesion but also develop a travelling culture amongst the nation
and region’s youth. In turn, the social benefit of youth travel has the potential to be
transformed into economic benefits in the future.
Close proximity to Asian neighbours.
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Fusion and cosmopolitan lifestyle destination: With its modern facilities and
western way of lifestyle while located in Asia, Thailand can be promoted as a fusion
and cosmopolitan lifestyle destination to attract Asian tourists to explore the country
that offer all activities and entertainment that provides the best of the western world
and rich culture of Asia by only travelling within a short distance.
THREATS
Environmental degradation: At sensitive areas such as islands and hill resorts,
environmental degradation has also worsened over the last few years due to the lack
of management and enforcement.
Regional crises, e.g. terrorism, avian flu and tsunami, discourage tourism.
Currency fluctuation continues to be a risk.
The world economic drop
Other countries in south East Asia like Malaysia, Cambodia etc have similarity in
geography.
CHAPTER – 7
LEARNING EXPERIENCE, OBSERVATION,
RECOMMENDATIONS
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
I learned about the international check in and checkout process in the airport
In the airport I also learnt about the customs, immigration and security process.
We learnt how the transfer facilities which are provided to the tourists on time.
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We learnt how to maintain the cleanliness and surroundings of the particular tourist
destinations in Thailand.
We came to know and experience about the culture and tradition of the people in
Thailand
We learnt about the international standard accommodation facilities provided by the
hotels in Thailand
The basic facilities like drinking water was not provided sufficiently
A family mart shop was open 24 hours every day which is very helpful as it has
mobile recharge, medicines, food and beverage etc...
We found that there was lack of tourist information service centers in Thailand.
OBSERVATIONS
Positive findings at Thailand:
Excellent roads: the public highways also called as public roads especially parts of urban
streets which has a network that covers over 70000 kms across all regions of Thailand
Variety of types of tourism like beach tourism with variety of activities, rural tourism,
cultural and heritage tourism which help to attract more tourists.
Wide variety of activities: many variety of activities such as under water walk,
paragliding, the orang-utan boxing show found nowhere in the world.
Well maintained tourist spots: the tourist spots like nong nooch village, tiger zoo, coral
island and the safari park was very well maintained with all the basic facilities required
for the tourists.
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Clean surroundings: the surroundings in safari park, noong nooch village was very
clean with beautiful gardens.
Negative findings at Thailand:
Less number of cultural and historical attractions: Compared to India, Thailand has
less number of cultural and historical sites. Though thailand is rich in its culture and it
is also known as” land of smiles” there are less number of cultural and historical
attraction.
Over flow of tourists at the destinations: the safari park, coral islands etc…are the
places where the tourists are heavily crowded and these places have less carrying
capacity
Communication problem with the local people: other than the professionals in the
tourism industry no other people knew English
Tourist information centre: There is no tourist information centre at Thailand and it
lacks various tourism professionals to provide basic information about the destinations.
Prostitution is high: Thailand has long been promoted as the "sex capital" of the
world.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As there are limited number of Cultural and Historical attractions, it is recommended
to concentrate more on these attractions so that the destination attracts still more
number of tourists. More investments should be made for the development of
historical and cultural attractions.
Provide the tourist information centres and also the basic information required for the
tourists at the destinations with a trained professional.
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Establishment more budgetary hotels: as most of the hotels provide international
standard accommodation facilities the rates are charged high, hence more budgetary
hotels should be established
Introduction of new types of tourism which will help to attract new tourist from all
parts of the world
Tourism activities conducted in the destinations should be planned and managed in
such a way that it will leads to the Sustainable Tourism Development.
Thailand should be aware that there are threats from new emerging developing
countries which have variety and exoticness in terms of tourist attractions.
CONCLUSION
Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles”. Most travelers begin their journey of discovery
Asian culture in this fabled country, the perfect balance between East and West. Foreign yet
familiar, adventurous, accessible and cheap to chill out in, Thailand has the right blend for
backpackers. Although if you are looking for tradition, ancient rhythms of life and untouched
places this is not the best country, since tourism has been highly explored in the last years,
especially in the south.
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It is a country in which travelling is very easy: it has a reliable transport that facilitate
travelling along the touristic routes, but we have also arrived to off-the-beaten-track places
simply by hitching on the roads (Thais are always happy to help you). It is also very cheap
for people travelling on a budget. It is easy to find cheap food, accommodation and transport
if you shop around for the best prices.
The dominant religion in the country is the Buddhism, that’s why it is very common to find
orange dressed monks and golden, stone or marble Buddha statues almost everywhere.
In conclusion, we love Thailand and we highly recommend travelling on this country for
many reasons. The most important one is Thai people, very kind and welcoming, always with
a smile and a great sense of humour. Other reasons are the amazing and still well preserved
landscapes, the laid-back atmosphere, the delicious food and the rich culture they have.
To maintain the long-lasting tourism income, Thailand should be aware that there are threats
from new emerging developing countries which have variety and exoticness in terms of
tourist attractions. As compared to the tourist destination of other countries there are sectors
in Thailand tourism that has to be developed and to compete with the new emerging
destinations, Thailand should focus on strengths and opportunities and repositioning itself to
the changing tourist needs and demands.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Books:
Bhatia A.K “TOURISM DEVELOPMENT”, Sterling Publications Pvt. Ltd, New
Delhi, 2004.
Chand Mohinder “international tourism” Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi,
2006.
Magazines:
Outlook Traveler
Travel plus
Discover India
Travelogue
websites:
www.google.com
www.thailand travel.com
www .Tourism.thai.com
www.moonsoonholidays.com
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