| Bangkok, sometimes called "The Big Chilli", is | | | | Thailand is actively targeting niche markets such |
| considered to be one of the world's tourist | | | | as golf holidays, or holidays combined with medical |
| hotspots. Bangkok is Thailand's major tourist | | | | treatment. Thailand has also plans on becoming |
| gateway, which means that the majority of | | | | the hub for Buddhist tourism in the region.Around |
| foreign tourists arrive in Bangkok. The city boasts | | | | 2 million foreigners visiting Thailand for medical |
| some of the country's most visited historical | | | | treatment are expected in 2009, more than 3 |
| venues such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and | | | | times the amount of tourist visiting for that |
| Wat Arun. There are numerous projects to | | | | purpose in 2002. According to Lonely Planet, |
| maintain Bangkok's historic sites in the | | | | Thailand ranks second of "Best-value destinations |
| Rattanakosin area and river districts. | | | | for 2010" after Iceland; the latter having been hit |
| The tourism industry in Thailand truly took off | | | | very hard by the subprime mortgage crisis. |
| when US soldiers started to arrive in the 1960s | | | | Attractions |
| for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) during the | | | | Phanom Rung is a Khmer temple complex set on |
| Vietnam war period.Coinciding, international mass | | | | the rim of an extinct volcano in Buriram Province |
| tourism sharply increased during the same period | | | | Thailand offers a great variety of attractions. |
| due to the rising standard of living, more people | | | | These include diving sites, sandy beaches, |
| acquiring more free time and due to | | | | hundreds of tropical islands, varied night-life, |
| improvements in technology making it possible to | | | | archaeological sites, museums, hill tribes, |
| travel further, faster, cheaper and in greater | | | | exceptional flora and bird life, palaces, a huge |
| numbers, epitomised by the Boeing 747 which | | | | amount of Buddhist temples and several World |
| first flew commercially in 1970. Thailand was one | | | | Heritage sites. Many tourists follow courses during |
| of the major players in Asia to capitalise on this | | | | their stay in Thailand. Popular are classes in Thai |
| then-new trend. | | | | cooking, Buddhism and traditional Thai massage. |
| Tourist numbers have grown from 336,000 | | | | Thai national festivals range from the fun-for-all |
| foreign visitors and 54,000 R&R soldiers in | | | | water splashing Songkran to the almost fairytale |
| 1967 to over 14 million international guests visiting | | | | like quality of Loy Krathong. Many localities in |
| Thailand in 2007. The average duration of their | | | | Thailand also have their own festivals. Famous are |
| stay in 2007 was 9.19 days, generating an | | | | the "Elephant Round-up" in Surin, the "Rocket |
| estimated 547,782 million Thai baht, around 11 | | | | Festival" in Yasothon and the curious "Phi Ta |
| billion Euro. In 2007, Thailand was the 18th most | | | | Khon" festival in Dan Sai. |
| visited country in the World Tourism rankings with | | | | Only the most austere ascetics can resist |
| 14.5 million visitors. France, comparable to Thailand | | | | shopping when in Thailand. Bangkok is renowned |
| in land area and population, led the list with nearly | | | | for its main shopping malls down town (with |
| 82 million foreign visitors. | | | | CentralWorld being the biggest shopping mall in |
| According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, | | | | South-east Asia), offering an astounding variety |
| 55% of the tourists in 2007 came from the Asia | | | | of international and local brands. Towards the |
| Pacific region, Japanese and Malaysians forming | | | | north of the city, and easily reached by skytrain |
| the two biggest groups. The largest groups of | | | | or underground, is "Chatuchak Weekend Market". |
| Western tourists come from the United Kingdom, | | | | It is possibly the largest market in the world, |
| Australia, Germany, the United States and | | | | selling everything from household items to live, |
| Scandinavia. The number of tourists arriving from | | | | and sometimes endangered, animals. The |
| the Middle East and Russia is on the rise. Around | | | | "Pratunam Market" downtown, is nearly totally |
| 55% of Thailand's tourists are return visitors. The | | | | specialised in fabrics and clothing. The night |
| peak period is during the Christmas and New Year | | | | markets in the Silom area and on Khaosan Road |
| holidays when Western tourists flee the cold | | | | are mainly tourist orientated, selling items such as |
| conditions back home. | | | | T-shirts, handicrafts, counterfeit watches and |
| Domestic tourism has also grown significantly in | | | | sunglasses. In the vicinity of Bangkok one can find |
| the past decade. Revenues from domestic | | | | several visually stunning floating markets such as |
| tourism have gone from 187,898 million baht in | | | | the one in Damnoen Saduak. The "Sunday Evening |
| 1998 to 380,417 million baht (approximately 7.8 | | | | Walking Street Market", held on Rachadamnoen |
| billion Euro) in 2007. | | | | road inside the old city, must be the shopping |
| Thailand has been receiving increased competition | | | | highlight of a visit to Chiang Mai up in northern |
| ever since Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam opened | | | | Thailand. It attracts many locals as well as |
| up to international tourism in the 1980s and 90s. | | | | foreigners. The "Night Bazaar" is Chiang Mai's more |
| Destinations like Angkor Wat, Luang Prabang and | | | | tourist orientated market, sprawling over several |
| Halong Bay now contest Thailand's former | | | | city blocks just east of the old city walls towards |
| monopoly in the Indochina region. To counter this, | | | | the river. |