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Largest City: Bangkok
Official Languages: Thai
Constitution: Constitutional monarchy
Area: approx. 514 000 km²
Population: approx. 64 million
Religions: Buddhists 95 %, Muslims 4 %
Population structure: Thais (incl. lao) 80 %, Chinese 14 %, Malays, Khmers and others 6 %
Tourism: approximately 15 million tourists are expected to visit Thailand during 2008
Traffic: Left-hand traffic
Timezone: GMT + 7 hours
Electricity: 220 volts, 50 cycles/sec. Adapter plug needed occasionally.
Climate: Thailand enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct seasons: hot and dry from February to May (average temperature 34 degrees Celsius and 75% humidity); rainy with plenty of sunshine from June to October (average day temperature 29 degrees Celsius and 87% humidity); and cool from November to January (temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius to below 20 degrees Celsius with a drop in humidity).
Currency: Baht (THB)
Tax: Sales tax, or VAT (Value Added Tax), is 7 % on all purchases. Many hotels and restaurants, especially those which cater to foreigners, will add both VAT and a service charge (usually 10 %). Look at the fine print at the bottom of the menu or price sheet.
Telephone: Calling code +66, Calls from Thailand 001
City codes to most common tourist resorts: Bangkok: 02, Phuket: 076, Pattaya: 038, Koh Samui: 077, Chiang Mai: 053, Krabi: 075
Emergency calls: Tourist police 1155, emergency center 191
Time: The year 2012 in Thailand is 2555. Thailand uses Buddhist Era (B.E.) dates, not Christian dates (A.D.). To translate between the two, just add/subtract 543.
Business Hours: Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week, usually from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm except on public holidays.
Weights/measures: The metric system is used throughout Thailand. Numerals on vehicle speedometers, highway markers and speed limits all indicate kilometres.
National Day (King’s birthday): 5th December
Land code: TH
Visa: Citizens of most countries can enter Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days, but if you plan to be in Thailand for more than 30 days, then get a travel visa for Thailand – either a "tourist visa" for tourism, or a "nonimmigrant" visa if you are here for business, both good for 90 days. Longer visas from Thai embassy or Thai consulate outside Thailand or Immigration Office in Bangkok.
Airport: Bangkok's new International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounced “Su-Wana-Poom” means “The Golden Land”), was opened on 28th September 2006. This new airport will replace Don Muang Airport.
Distances inside the country:
Bangkok - Chonburi 80 km
Bangkok - Bangsaen 90 km
Bangkok - Pattaya 147 km
Bangkok - Rayong 180 km
Bangkok - Ban Phe 200 km
Bangkok - Koh Chang 315 km
Bangkok - Koh Samet 180 km
Bangkok - Hua Hin 220 km
Bangkok - Cha-am 200 km
Bangkok - Krabi 815 km
Bangkok - Samui 665 km
Bangkok - Phuket 860 km
Bangkok - Phi Phi 855 km
Bangkok - Koh Lanta 880 km
Bangkok - Chiang Mai 690 km
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