Thailand Facts
Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, the Kingdom of Thailand is a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its neighbours are Myanmar to the west and north, Laos to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the southeast and Malaysia to the south.
Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, has reigned for over 50 years, making him the longest serving Thai monarch.
Travel
Bangkok is a major travel hub, serviced by over 80 international airlines via the state-of-the art Suvarnabhumi International Airport, opened in 2006.
Citizens of most nations automatically receive a 30-day visa on arrival. Do ensure you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip air ticket and adequate finances equivalent to at least 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family. Please check specific visa requirements at http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2637.php
Exhibitors and registered delegates will be accorded use of fast track service at Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok International) Airport using the MICE lane. To avail of this service, please provide on your registration form or email to alice.ho@golfconference.org before 18 February 2011 your full passport and travel details.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced "su-wan-na-poom") there is a 24 hour limousine service with fixed rates and official receipts or meter taxis with a 50 baht airport surcharge and any expressway tolls used. The Bangkok Convention Centre within Centara Grand hotel is approximately 25 kilometres or 30 minutes by car via expressway.
People
Thais are renowned for their friendliness and gracious hospitality.
The 62 million people of Thailand are 80% Thai, 10% Chinese, 3% Malay. Buddhism is the most important religion, for 95% of the population. 4% of Thais are Muslim with 1% Christian and other faiths.
Language
Thai is the national language. English is widely understood where it is the major commercial language. English is spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations and street signs are in both Thai and English.
Climate
Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons:
- February to May - hot and dry with average temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity
- June to October - rainy with plenty of sunshine from, 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity
- November to January, 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius and with lower humidity.
Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the baht, divided into 100 satangs. Notes are in denominations of 1,000 (grey), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and 10 (brown) baht. There are also coins of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht and 10 baht. Official banking hours are Monday - Friday, 09.30 - 15.30 hrs. There is no restriction to the amount of foreign or Thai currency brought into the country.
AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa credit cards are welcome at most stores, restaurant and hotels. Major banks and ATMs (automatic teller machines) also recognise these cards.
The metric system is used throughout Thailand and numerals on speedometers, maps and speed limits are all in kilometres.
Electricity
The electric current is 220 volts AC (50 cycles) and accept flat pronged and round pronged plugs. Travellers with mobile phone chargers, laptops and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels will provide 110-volt transformers.
Tap Water
Tap water is clean, but drinking is not advisable. Bottled water is recommended usually provide in guestrooms.
Clothing
Light, cool clothing is advisable and a jacket may be needed for business meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.
time
Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+7 hours GMT).
Business Hours
Most commercial concerns in Bangkok work a five-day week, usually from 08.00 to 17.00 hrs. Government offices are generally open between 08.30 to 16.30 hrs with a 12.00 to 13.00hrs lunch break. Many stores are open seven days a week from 10.00 to 22.00 hrs.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
- Central Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire): 191
- Highway Patrol: 1193
- Crime Suppression: 195 or 02 513 3844
- Tourist Police (English, French and German spoken): 1155
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Call Centre: 1672
- Immigration Bureau: 02 287 3101 10
Customs and Social graces
The Monarchy: Thai people have a deep traditional reverence for the Royal Family and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and all members of the Royal Family.
Religion: Visitors should dress neatly at all places of worship. Skimpy tops, shorts or any revealing clothing are inappropriate.
It is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept. Each Buddha image, even if it is a ruin, is a scared object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything, which might indicate a lack of respect.
Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by women and they may not accept anything directly from a woman's hand. When a woman wishes to make an offering to a monk she must first hand it to a man and he will present it.
Thais do not normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person will wai an elder, who will return the greeting but even casual acquaintances wai politely when they meet.
Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body literally and figuratively. One should never touch a person's head and should take care not to point the feet, the lowest part of the body, at anyone or anything. Shoes should be removed when entering a Thai home.
Speical Advice
While walking in the city, put food wrappers or anything you wish to discard into a waste bin. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is enforcing anti-litter regulations to keep the city clean and tidy. Fines will be imposed on anyone caught spitting, throwing away cigarette stubs or drops litter in public places.
Penalties for drug possession are very severe in Thailand.
Never buy any products made from wild animals including reptiles such as snakes, monitor lizards, or turtle shells and ivory.
Tipping
Tipping is not standard practice in Thailand, although it is becoming so. Most international hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. Taxi drivers do not require a tip, but rounding up to the next 10 baht on the meter display is common. (20-50 baht is acceptable for porters).
Shopping
Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is to be expected. Usually you can obtain a final price of between 10-40% lower than the initial asking price. Much depends on your skill, but remember that Thais appreciate a sense of humour, patience and a smile.
Please take care when buying a Buddha replica statue; any Buddha image which is larger than 12cm requires written permission from the local Fine Arts Department. This can be obtained on your behalf by the seller, or you can apply yourself. Without the necessary export permit, you risk confiscation of your souvenir when departing Thailand.
VAT Refund
Visitors entering the Kingdom on tourist visas are entitled to refunds of the 7% value-added tax (VAT) paid on goods purchased at shops and department stores displaying a VAT Refund for Tourists sign. The refund may be claimed on purchases amounting to 5,000 baht or more. Tourists will received a form PP10 when purchases of 2,000 baht or more are made at the same store on the same day.
Before checking in at an international airport (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, U-Taphao), visitors must show their purchases, with the completed PP10 form and tax invoices to the Customs officer for inspection. Refunds may be in the form of a bank draft or credited to a credit card.