ThailandThe land of smiles

By, Nicco De La Garza

Landscape

• The biggest part of Thailand is on the Indochina Peninsula

• Thailand’s landscape is very versatile• North and West are some parallel high

mountains• Some high elevations

People

• 59 million people• 6.7 million living in Bangkok• Approximately 75% of the citizenry are ethnic

Thais.• 14% are Chinese• Average life for men is 66 and 72 for women.• They speak their own language.

Native Food

• Spicy Shrimp Soup, Fried Noodle, Green Chicken Curry,& Chicken in Coconut Milk Soup

• Sit on the floor around a bamboo table• All the meals, eaten in North Thailand• Food is plentiful as in all parts of Thailand• Gay yang, barbecued chicken with pepper

sauce and garlic

Religion

• 94.6% of Thais are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition.

• Muslims are the second largest religious group at 4.6%.

• There is also a small Jewish community• 0.7% Southern tip is Malays, Christians,

mainly Catholics

Industry/Economic Progress

• Newly industrialized economy• Thailand experienced GDP growth by 7.8% in

2010 • Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan,

Brunei,& Malaysia• The country has a GDP of 9.5 trillion Baht• 24th largest economy in the world

Sports/Leisure Activities

• Muay Thai is the populist sport• Muay Thai Boxing, Kraabi Krabong, Sepak

Takraw, Volley ball,& Football• Important market segments to the

development of tourism• World Sport Destination Expo (WSDE)• Sports tourism is turning into tourism’s fastest-

growing sector