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| Thailand Overview |
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Archaeologist studied
unearthed bronze utensils and dated civilization in Thailand
back to 3600 B.C. The study places the country as one of the
earliest civilization known in the world. The history on stone
scriptures was recorded in the 13th Century when King Intradit
established Sukotai as the capital of the Thai Kingdom. With
the respect commanded by the Monarchy and Buddhism act as
symbols of unity, enabling the country to develop and maintain
a homogeneous culture. The king acts as the Head of State
and the Protector of Buddhism, the national religion, which
is followed by 94% of the Thai whereas 6% is mixed of other
religions. Thailand is situated in mainland Southeast Asia
in the Central Pacific Basin . It is bounded by Malaysia to
the south, Laos and Cambodia to the northeast, and Myanmar
to the west and north. Its shape on the map has been likened
to the head of an elephant, with its trunk extending down
the Malay peninsula. The center of Thailand, Bangkok, is at
about 14’ north latitude, putting it on a level with Madras,
Manila,Guatemala and Khartoum. The country’s longest north-south
distance is about 1860 km. Central Thailand is a vast fertile
plain; the north is mountainous (with peaks reaching 2,000
meters); the northeast is semiarid; and the south is tropical.
Average temperature is ranging from 29.5 C to 38 C (85 F to
100 F) . The hottest and coolest months are in April and January
respectively. The official seasons are classified into summer
(March to May), rainy (June to October) and winter (November
to February). Thailand covers 517,000 square kilometers of
land mass and its coastlines stretches to a total distance
of 2,400 kilometers, making it slightly smaller than the state
of Texas in the USA, or about the size of France. The population
of Thailand is about 62 million and its currently growing
at a rate of 1-1.5% per annum. About 75% of citizens are ethnic
Thais, who can divided into the central Thais, the Thai Lao
of North-Eastern Thailand, the Thai Pak Tai of Southern Thailand,
and the Northern Thais. Each group speaks its own Thai dialect
and to a certain extent practises customs unique to its region.
People of Chinese ancestry make up 11% of the population,
most of whom are second or third-generation Hakka, Chao Zhou,
Hainanese or Cantonese. Bangkok is the commercial hub of the
nation with all governmental offices and business and industrial
headquarters heavily clustered in the inner city. Centers
of transportation and communications are also located within.
Population in Bangkok is growing rapidly toward 8 millions
figure as more people are moving in to look for works. Like
many capital cities, it suffers from traffic congestion. During
the rainy season, parts of it are also flooded.
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| Social environment
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Thailand’s
north-east has the lowest inflation rate and cost of living.
This region is poorer than the rest of the country. In the
South the economy is kept fairly stable with fishing, tin
mining, palm-oil and rubber production. Central Thailand grows
fruit, sugar cane and rice for country consumption and export.
Northern Thailand produces tea, maize, various fruits and
flowers. Raw average per capita income by 2000 was usd1949
per year and economy is growing at a rate of 4.5 per annum.
The minimum daily wage in Bangkok and surroundings provinces
is usd4.05 (local currency baht162).
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| Ecology |
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Thailand, like all
countries with very high population densities, has put enormous
pressure on the ecosystems within its borders. Fifty years
ago the countryside was around 70% of the natural forest ;
as of 2000 an estimated 20% of the natural forest cover remained.
In response to environmental degradation the Thai government
has created a large number of protected parks, reserves and
sanctuaries since the 1970s, and has enacted legislation to
protect specific plant and animal species. The government
hopes to raise the total forest cover to 40% by the middle
of this century. Marine resources are also threatened by a
lack of long-range conservation goals. The upper portion of
the Gulf of Thailand, between Rayong and Prachuap Khiri Khan,
was once one of the most fertile marine areas in the world.
Now it is virtually dead due to overfishing and the release
of mainland pollutants. One encouraging move by the Thai Government
was the passing of the 1992 environmental Act, which provides
for environmental quality standards and the establishment
of national authority to designate conservation and pollution
control areas.
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| Government and its
involvement economy |
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The country is ruled
by an elected civilian coalition government, with strong,
bureaucratic government and military institutions. Thailand
has been a Constitutional Monarchy since 1928.
Government keeps its intervention in industry and commerce
to a minimal level. Government's major roles are to subsidize
and provide necessary infrastructure and education to accommodate
growth of business sectors. In fact, the Government has maintained
an open policy for private sector participation in the development
of the country's major infrastructure projects.
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| Currency |
Baht, the official currency, is internationally
accepted and traded with other major currencies. It is strongly
weighed to the US dollar (Exchange rate about Baht 33.00 to
1 US dollar).
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| Transportation and
Communication |
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AIRPORT:
Over fifty international carriers transit at the Bangkok
International Airport. Local citizens or tourists can easily
arrange flights or connections to almost anyplace in the world.
Thai Airways International, a national carrier offers flights
from Bangkok to 71 cities in 36 countries. Local services
are also provided to 23 domestic airports and five neighboring
countries: Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
Other domestic international airports are located at Chiangmai.
Phuket,and Hat Yai.
SEAPORTS: port of Bangkok (Klongtoey
Harbor) is the country's major port, capable of handling vessels
up to 10,000 gross tons. Deep sea ports such as Laem Chabeng
and Map Ta Phut will become eminent in near future as their
full potential have yet to be realized.
RAILWAYS: The railway system
of Thailand was developed in the reign of King Rama the fifth
and expanded later to link the whole country together. At
present a total of 4,500 kilometers of railway tracks connect
the principal cities in Thailand, and rail links have been
established with neighboring countries including Laos, Cambodia
and Malaysia. More importantly, railways plays crucial parts
in International transportation as there are daily services
from Bangkok to Laem Chabang Eastern Seaport, the most sophisticated
and modernized seaport of Thailand.
ROADS: Thailand has 167,450 kilometers
of national and provincial highways, and rural roads which
link every major town in the country. Intercity travel speeds
of around 80 kilometers per hour are readily achieved. The
road network is generally recognized as one of the best in
Southeast Asia.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: The country
is linked by satellite to more than 80 countries worldwide.
Telephones are found in all large towns. Rural areas are linked
mainly by radio telephone. In 1989, there were more than 1
million telephone lines installed and there will be another
3 million telephone lines installed nation-wide in the next
few years to serve the growing demand. Other telecommunication
services include radio telephones, mobile telephones, short
wave, VHF and UHF radio transceivers, telex, telegram and
facsimile.
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