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Monarchy:
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making Him the longest reigning monarch in the world.
Capital:
Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels") is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Geography:
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The Kingdom of Thailand, covering an area of 514,000 square kilometers, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub–districts and villages.
Topography:
Thailand is divided into four distinct areas: the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi–arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsular South, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands.
Climate:
Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperature is about 29°C, ranging in Bangkok from 35°C in April to 17°C in December. There are three seasons: cool season (November to February), hot season (April to May), and rainy season (June to October).
The temperature in the month of January is around 25-26°C.
Time Zone:
Thailand is +07.00 hours ahead of GMT
Population:
Thailand has a population of about 60 million. Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically been a migratory crossroad, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao, Malay, Indian, and most strongly, Chinese stock, have produced a degree of ethnic diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there is enormous unity.
Language:
Spoken and written Thai is largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language. English and some European languages are spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants in major tourist destinations, and Thai–English road and street signs are found nationwide.
Religion:
Buddhism (95%), Muslim (4%), others (1%)
Currency Exchange Rate:
The Thai unit of currency is the Baht. Traveler cheques are best changed in bank (you will need your passport). Rates of exchange at banks or authorized moneychangers are better than those at hotels and department stores.
The approximate exchange rates for 1US$ is roughly equal to 33 Baht and 1 Euro is roughly equal to 48 Baht.
Business hours:
Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on five–day week, usually form 08.00 – 17.00 hrs. Many stores open seven days a week from 10.00 – 22.00 hrs. Government offices are generally open between 08.30 and 16.30 hrs., Monday to Friday.
Banking:
Banking hours are Monday to Friday: 08.30 – 15.30 hrs. Most banks accept traveler’s cheque. Foreign exchange currencies are viable at airport and some banks.
Credit Cards:
Credit Cards are widely accepted. For lost cards:
American Express Tel: 66 2 273 5100 or 66 2 273 0022
Diners Club Tel: 66 2 238 2920 or 66 2 238 2680
Master Card: Tel 66 2 256 7326–7
Visa Tel: 66 2 256 7326–7
Goods and Services Tax:
A Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Value Added Tax (VAT) of 7% applies to all consumer goods and services and included in retail prices. A VAT refund can be claimed by any non–Thai visitor who departs Thailand by air carrier from an international airport with the following conditions:
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VAT refund only applies to goods taken out of Thailand with the traveler within 60 days from the date of purchase.
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Goods must be purchased from stores displaying the “VAT REFUND FOR TOURISTS” sign.
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Goods must be at least 5,000 Baht including VAT and must be purchased each supplier at the least 2,000 Baht per day.
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On the purchasing day, present your passport and ask the sales assistant at store to complete the VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) and attach the original tax invoices to the form. Each application form (P.P.10) must show a value of goods of 2,000 Baht or more.
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Before departure, present your goods and VAT refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10) to Customs Officials for inspection before check–in.
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Luxury goods, such as jewelry, gold ornaments, watch, glasses, or pen, must once more be inspected by the Revenue Officials at the VAT refund office at the departure lounge after passport control.
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You can either present your claim to the Revenue Officials at the VAT Refund Counter or mail it back to the Revenue Department of Thailand or drop it into the box in front of the VAT Refund office.
Telephone services:
At present, all telephone numbers (for local calls and long distance calls within the country) have nine digits.
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For Bangkok calls, 02 is added to the existing numbers i.e. 0 2694 1222.
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For provincial calls, an area code also is added to the existing numbers.
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For mobile phones, 081 or 084 or 085 or 086 or 087 or 089 is added to the existing numbers.
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The international dialing code for Thailand is 66.
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When making international calls to Thailand, add 66 and omit the leading 0.
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When making international calls from Thailand, first dial 001+country code+area code+telephone number
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Direct assistance: 1133 (local), 100 (international)
International Roaming Mobile Phone:
A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Thai and foreign customers who are traveling around for work. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900–MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800–MHz range.
Electricity:
The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles) throughout the country. Many difference types of plugs are sockets are in use. On request, most hotels will provide transformers to with electrical appliance voltage.
Postal Service:
Thailand’s mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Provincial post offices are usually open from 08.00 – 16.30 hrs.
Smoking:
Thailand has extended a national ban on smoking in public areas to include pubs, restaurant, discos and market–places, both open–air and air–conditioned. Previously, the regulations applied only to public building and closed air–conditioned areas. Individual violators can be fined as much as 2,000 Baht. If any public places violate the rules, they will be fined 20,000 Baht.
| Do’s and Don’t in Thailand |
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 the Royal Family.
Religion:
Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attirelt 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, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred 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 a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.
Social Norms:
Thais don’t 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 wais an elder, who returns it. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively, therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude. Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.
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