conventional long form:
Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
former: Siam
Bangkok. Population: 9.4
million, including Thon Buri (UN estimate 2005).
Description:
Thailand is bordered to the west by Myanmar and the Indian
Ocean, to the south and east by Malaysia and the Gulf of
Thailand, to the east by Cambodia, and to the north and east
by Laos. Central Thailand is dominated by the Chao Phraya
River.
Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
513,115 sq km (198,115 sq
miles).
language:
Thai is the official language. English is widely spoken,
especially in establishments catering for tourists.
Climate:
Generally very hot, particularly between March and May.
The monsoon season runs from June to October, when the climate
is still hot and humid with torrential rains. The best time
for travelling is November to February (cool season), although
the southern islands are best from June to September.
Economy - overview:
The Thai economy expanded very rapidly during the 1980s
and early 1990s, with the average annual GDP growth between
1990 and 1996 being 8.5%. However, things slowed dramatically
in the summer of 2007 when the Asian currency crisis struck,
causing the economy to drop by 11%. After a strong initial
recovery, the Thai economy suffered again in 2001/2 following
9/11, and in 2003 suffered because of the reaction to SARS,
the war in Iraq and fears of terrorism.
Things took an upward turn in 2004 due to domestic demand and
strong exports, giving the economy resilience to the outbreak
of avian influenza and soaring oil prices. However, following
the tsunami in December 2004, sharp rises in world oil prices
and domestic political turmoil following the military coup in
September 2006 affected growth. In 2007 the inflation rate was
2.2% with unemployment down to 1.4%.
Following the financial collapse in 1997 the government
launched the Amazing Thailand campaign which increased tourist
arrivals dramatically, all keen to take advantage of the
favourable exchange rate. Arrival numbers peaked in 2002 but
were down by 10% in 2003 with the occurrence of SARS. However,
visitor numbers have improved steadily and were more than 14
million in 2007 - a 4.65% increase on 2006.
Economy:
The Thai economy expanded very rapidly during the 1980s and
early 1990s, with the average annual GDP growth between 1990
and 1996 being 8.5%. However, things slowed dramatically in
the summer of 2007 when the Asian currency crisis struck,
causing the economy to drop by 11%. After a strong initial
recovery, the Thai economy suffered again in 2001/2 following
9/11, and in 2003 suffered because of the reaction to SARS,
the war in Iraq and fears of terrorism.
Things took an upward turn in 2004 due to domestic demand and
strong exports, giving the economy resilience to the outbreak
of avian influenza and soaring oil prices. However, following
the tsunami in December 2004, sharp rises in world oil prices
and domestic political turmoil following the military coup in
September 2006 affected growth. In 2007 the inflation rate was
2.2% with unemployment down to 1.4%.
Following the financial collapse in 1997 the government
launched the Amazing Thailand campaign which increased tourist
arrivals dramatically, all keen to take advantage of the
favourable exchange rate. Arrival numbers peaked in 2002 but
were down by 10% in 2003 with the occurrence of SARS. However,
visitor numbers have improved steadily and were more than 14
million in 2007 - a 4.65% increase on 2006.
tourism, textiles and garments,
agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light
manufacturing such as jewelry, electric appliances and
components, computers and parts, integrated circuits,
furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten
producer, and third-largest tin producer
Exports:
Rice, precious stones and jewellery, office equipment,
textiles and clothing.
Imports:
Main imports: Chemicals, electrical machinery and crude
oil.
• Main trade partners: USA, Japan, China (PR), Malaysia and
the EU.
Exchange rates:
Baht (THB; symbol ��?) = 100 satang. Notes are in
denominations of ��?1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are
in denominations of ��?10, 5 and 1, and 50 and 25 satang.
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/279/money/South-East-Asia/Thailand.html
BOT Today
GDP :
US$246 billion (2007).
Useful
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