| The Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th | | | | CURRENCY |
| century as was known as Siam until 1939. It is | | | | The official currency is the Thai Baht which |
| the only Southeast Asian country that has never | | | | exchanges for 40.22 to the US Dollar. |
| been colonized by a European power. | | | | DOMESTIC TRANSPORT |
| Thailand is a popular destination in Southeast Asia, | | | | Thailand has a large network of highways and |
| and is served by over 80 international airlines | | | | smaller roads linking the main cities with outlying |
| landing mainly in Bangkok with an increasing | | | | areas. Visitors who possess an international driving |
| number of international flights arriving in Phuket, | | | | license can rent cars in order to explore the |
| Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. Thailand's domestic | | | | country on their own. |
| airports have increased and all have connecting | | | | Rail travel is also an option with first, second and |
| flights to Bangkok and at least one other | | | | third class seats including air-conditioned first- and |
| destination. Thailand has four international airports, | | | | second-class sleeping coaches. |
| one each in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat | | | | For getting around Bangkok, public taxis and |
| Yai. | | | | tuk-tuks, air-conditioned buses, motorbike taxis |
| ENTRY REGULATIONS | | | | and a sky train system serve key central areas. |
| Travelers should check visa regulations at a Thai | | | | River ferries and water taxis are also generally |
| Embassy or consulate before staring their | | | | available for daily commuting within Bangkok and |
| journey. Foreign nationals entering Thailand must | | | | its suburbs. |
| have valid passports. At the airport, nationals | | | | COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES |
| from most countries will be granted a free transit | | | | International Direct Dial Country Code = 66 |
| visa valid up to 30 days, provided that they have | | | | Fixed Lines = 7,000,000 |
| a fully paid ticket out of Thailand. | | | | Mobile Cellular = 28,000,000 |
| CLIMATE | | | | Thailand's telephone system is generally of high |
| Thai weather is tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy | | | | quality provided both by a government owned |
| southwest monsoon from mid-May to September | | | | and commercial provider. Thailand's GSM wireless |
| and dry, cool northeast monsoon from November | | | | service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines. |
| to mid-March; Thailan's southern part is generally | | | | Thailand's GSM providers are THAIS GSM, Total |
| hot and humid all year round. | | | | Access Comms and WCS. |
| LANGUAGE | | | | Several prepaid calling card and phone card |
| The official language is Thai with English as the | | | | companies are available to call both to and from |
| secondary language of the elite; there are also | | | | Thailand. |
| various ethnic and regional dialects. | | | | |