Tourism

In 1989 over 2.6 million tourists visited Thailand and, for the first time ever, tourism became Thailand's major foreign exchange earner. ln 1994 over 6.13
million tourists visited Thailand with 57% being East Asians,26% Europeans, 7% Americans and 10% others. It is estimated that in the following years of 1995-1998 the number of tourists visiting Thailand will be 6.7, 7.2, 7.7 and 8.2 million respectively. In 1991 Thailand earned a total of 100,004 million baht from tourism, a staggering 43.98% of the total income of the service sector and this increased to 145,211 million baht in 1994. Thailand's tourism sector is particularly well developed. Modern communications make remote corners of the kingdom accessible, and comfortable Western-style hotels can befound in all maj or cities.

With an abundance of natural attractions, including mountains and marine national parks, sparkling beach resorts, ruined cities, archaeo- logical wonders, year-round festivals and events, excellent recreation, cultural and leisure facilities, Thailand offers visitors truly memorable holidays.

Major Attractions
Briefly Thailand’s major tourism destinations are as follows:

Bangkok, the Thai capital’s major attractions include the fabulous Wat Phra Keo (Emerald Buddha Chapel) and the Grand Palace complex, Wat Arun (Temple
of Dawn), Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Saket (Golden Mount), Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple); the royal barges which were featured in processions during Bangkok’s Bicentennial Celebrations in l982;the Pasteur Institute's Snake Farm
where poisonous snakes are feddaily and venom is "milked" from cobras and kraits to make invaluable serum; Jim Thompson's canalside Thai house which contains a superb collection of Asian objects d’art; Suan Pakkard Palace's lacquered pavillion which is
decorated with medieval gold leaf murals; the world*s largest crocodile farm; a 200 acre open air museum called the Ancient City; unrivalled shopping opportunities for some of the world's most admired handicrafts; and a liberated, almost legendary night life.

Nakhon Pathom, 56 kilometres west of Bangkok, hosts the world's tallest Buddhist monument, the 380-foot high Phra Pathorn Chedi which marks the spot where Buddhism was introduced to the region some 2,300 years ago.

Damnoensaduak, just south of Nakhon Pathom, is the site of Thailand's most vibrant floating market where farmers congregate each morning in brimfully-laden boats to sell fresh produce.

Kanchanaburi, some 130 kilometres west of Bangkok, is famous for "the Bridge over the River Kwai" and an Allied War Cemetery for soldiers who died
building the "Death Railway" during World War ll. The countryside beyond Kanchanaburi, with forested mountains, fertile valleys and lush jungles, contains exotic flora and fauna, waterfalls and awesome caves once inhabited by Neolithic man.

Ayutthaya, some 70 kilometres upstream from Bangkok, was the Thai capital from 1350 to 1767. Magnificent ruins of palaces, (temples lined with headless
Buddhas and crumbling fortresses, provide eloquent- testimony to the former capital's splendour. Just south of Ayutthaya is the former summer palace of Bang Paln.

Phra Buddha Bat (Shrine of the Buddha's Footprint), is just north
of Saraburi, some 120 kilometres north of Bangkok. The Buddha’s Footprint was accidentally discove ered more than 350 years ago by a deer hunter. A pool of water in the shape of an enlarged human foot was supposed to have curative.
powers which convinced the Siamese monarch that this was the Buddha‘s Footprint (left by the Enlightened One during a nocturnal astral journey).

Khao Yai National Park, northeast of Saraburi, and about 200 kilometres from Bangkok, covers more than 540,000 acres, has an average elevation of 800 metres and a highest peak of 1,328 metres. The park supports protected wildlife (including tigers, elephants, bears and giant hombills), and countless species of wild flowers, trees and orchids. Khao Yai is laced with hiking trails and waterfalls and offers comfortable motor lodge accommodation.

Nakhon Ratchasima, 260 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, is the gateway to Thailand’s northeast, known to Thais as l—san. The enormous northeast plateau is largely bordered by the mighty Mekong River and is probably
Thailand's most distinctive region. Owing to the topography, the inhabitants have their own dialect, cuisine and boisterous folk culture. Centuries ago, l—san was part of the Khom Angkor—centred empire.

The Khom built severalPm; sat Hin (stone castle temples) throughout I-san. Two in particular, Phirnai, 56 kilometres northeast of Nakhon Ratchasima, and Phanom Rung, to the southeast, near the Thai—Cambodian border, are the loveliest examples of classical Khom 6 architecture found outside Cambodia.

Khon Kaen, a university town in l—san's geographic centre, and
famous for its Mud Mee silk; Loei province's Phu Kra Dung National Park, a crisply beautiful forested plateau between l,000 and 1,350 metres high where night-time Cool
Season temperatures plummet to near freezing point; Ban Chiang, a tiny hamlet where archaeological discoveries suggest the world’s oldest Bronze Age civilization was flour ishing there some 5,600 years ago.

Nakhon Phanom, site of Phra That Phanom, the most revered northeastern shrine, the spire of which dates back to the 9th century.

Surin, where an annual Elephant Round—up each November attracts visitors from all over the world.

Ubon Ratchathani which hosts a lovely Candle Festival to introducethe annual Buddhist Rains Retreat.

Yasothon where, each summer, massive home—made rockets are fired
into the air to ensure bountiful rains amid much hi gh—spirited and ribald
revelry.

Sukhothai, 440 kilometres north of Bangkok, and site of the
first independent Thai kingdom, founded in 1238, is notable for massive stone Buddhas which preside over ruins within the old city walls.

Chiang Mai, about 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, was founded in 1296 and is located in a fertile valley some l,000 feet above sea level.

Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai as being a national Shangri-la, thanks to the city's beautiful women; historical temples dating from the l300s, often times mist-shrouded mountain scenery, temperate fruits such as apples and peaches and the
necessity of having to wear sweaters and jackets during Cool Season evenings.

Mountains surrounding ChiangMai form the lower Himalayan foothills and host several onceitinerant hilltribes of Tibeto—Burman origin.

Many interesting places lie within a day's journey of Chiang Mai. These include Lamphun, a town famed for beautiful women, stunning temples and bountiful orchards;Lampang, a town where Burmesestyle temples and horse-drawn carriages evoke an earlier age; and Doi Inthanon National Park, named after Thailand‘s highest mountain, where waterfalls and hilltribes share the mountainside.

Pattaya, Thailand's "Riviera" and internationally famous beach
resort,is a comfortable two hour drive from Bangkok. All manner of watersports, offshore coral is lands, luxurious accomodation and a vibrant nightlife comprise
6 Pattaya's main attractions.

Hua Hin, on the Thai Gulf‘s west coast, 232 kilometres south
of Bangkok, is Thailand*s oldest beach resort and has been the Thai Royal Family's summer residence since the 1920s.

Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island and jewel of a 60
island archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand some 600 kilometres south of Bangkok. Palm - fringed beaches and secluded bays are dotted with sun bleached rock formations.

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island (approximately the size of Singapore) is 867 kilometres south of Bangkok on the lndian Ocean coast. The island is blessed with a wide variety of magnificent beaches, hidden caves and secluded
bays, and is probably Thailand”s best seafood haven. The beauties of Thailand's far south, particularly the area along the Andaman Sea, have made it one of the fastest-
growing tourist attractions in the region.

One of the world's scenic wonders lies northeast of Phuket, the eerily mysterious Phang Nga Bay where verdant limestone islands, honey combed with caves and aquatic grottos soar perpen dicularly, some 300 metres high, from perpetually calm waters.

Krabi, once regarded as remote,is now visited regularly by
tourists eager to enjoy its crystalline waters, white-sand beaches, and dramatic limestone outcrops that rise straight from the sea. Especially of interest is Koh Phi Phi, a pair of idyllic islands that lie off the coast, easily accessible by
boat from both Phuket and Krabi, now regularly visited by tour groups. For centuries travellers have come to collect the edible bird's nests found in a huge cave on the smaller of the two islands.

Last but not least, Songkhla, a somnolent fishing town on the
Gulf, some 1,200 kilometres south of Bangkok, has a fine beach, offshore islands and a fascinating inland sea-cum-bird sanctuary.