Thailand means "Land of Free" and many have described Thailand aptly as the "Land of Smiles". It is located in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland and spans across an area of 513,120 square kilometers. The estimated population as of 27 Feb 2023 stands at 70.2 million people. About 95 percent of its population is Buddhist. The country is divided into 4 distinct areas - the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula South distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands.
Its climate is humid and hot throughout the year, with average temperatures of about 29 degrees Celsius. There are three distinct seasons - the cool season from November to February, the hot Season from April to May and the rainy season from June to October, though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours.
The economy in Thailand, is Southeast Asia's second-largest free-market economy, with a nominal GDP of almost USD 500 billion. The nation's economy is mostly driven by the private sector, which also benefits from a strong domestic market and an expanding middle class. Thailand's economy is strongly rooted in the global economy, with exports accounting for more than 70% of its GDP, a sizable manufacturing sector contributing 40%, and a thriving and developing services sector contributing 50%, with a particular focus on the travel and finance sectors.
Being a regional leader in trade facilitation and liberalization, especially with its Asian neighbours, because of the importance of exports to the nation. Thailand is a significant ASEAN member with easy access to a market of over 660 million people, creating a community of interconnection, a base for production, and a single market.
Bangkok is the capital city, a city that combines ancient traditions with modern cultural diversities. It is accessible by more than 95 of the world's major airlines and the city has over 89,000 luxury, deluxe and standard-class rooms available. Thai is the national language. English is widely understood in the cities.
More information on Thailand is available at www.tourismthailand.org
(Source: Acclime)
