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KINGDOM OF THAILAND |
| AREA | 514,000 sq km (198,457 sq mi) |
| POPULATION | 60,206,000 |
| CAPITAL | Bangkok, pop. 5,876,000 |
| RELIGION | Theravada Buddhist |
| LANGUAGE | Thai |
| LITERACY | 94% |
| LIFE EXPECTANCY | 70 years |
| ECONOMY | Industry: textiles, cement, electronics, petroleum refining, transportation equipment, tourism, food processing. Export crops: rice, sugar, rubber, corn, seafood. Food crops: rice, fish, vegetables, fruits |
| PCI | $2,040 |
| Thailand,
or Siam as it was known in ancient times, is a vibrant country with a population
of about 60 million of vast majority adhering to Buddhism. Agriculture
is the main economic activity, but continues to decline in relative importance
as the industrial base expands and develops. A diverse country with bustling
cities, beautiful beaches and islands and stunning mountain resorts; it
possesses a wealth of architecture, culture, cuisine and traditions that
are distinctly Thai. A truly Asian holiday destination with all the sights,
sounds and aromas of the 'mystical east'.
Bangkok, its Capital city is famous for its numerous ancient temples and palaces; and the Chao Phrya River where the local people conduct their daily activities along the klongs. Pulsating nightlife, glorious shopping, sumptuous Thai cuisine, amazing sightseeing and excellent hotels. Phuket and Koh Samui are some of the many popular island paradise resorts which are fringed by white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. In contrast, Chiang Mai - a mountain resort, offers magnificent scenery, unique temples and architecture and an opportunity to meet the Hilltribe people from the surrounding villages Two 19th-century kings of Siam, Mongkut and his son Chulalongkorn, introduced Western education and technology but preserved the character of a devout Buddhist society. The only nation in Southeast Asia to escape colonial rule, Thailand has not escaped military coups—more than a dozen since 1932, when a revolution transformed the government from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. Investments from Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea powered an economic surge during the late 1980s. In this land of golden temples, tourism has upstaged rice as the main earner of foreign exchange. |
