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Tourism in Thailand
Thailand’s rich and varied culture is a constant fascination for all who visit, with colorful festivals traditional arts, gleaming temples, glorious beaches and exotic tropical islands, Thailand is a rewarding destination for culture traverse. Whether enjoying a vacation in Bangkok or traveling in rural areas the sheer verity of sights sound and festival visits with memories to last a lifetime.
In Bangkok a city of contrasts visitors can explore intriguing cultural sites dine in chic restaurants or at street side stalls, shop for luxury brand in ostentatious shopping malls, stocked to the rafters with top brand names and luxury goods, or pick up a bargain in the vibrant Chatuchak Market.
The northeast of Thailand a group of 18 culturally diverse provinces collectively known as lssan is one of the country’s most fascinating regions. Here travelers can discover fascinating acient ruins such as Phimai, a temple structure that pre-dates Angkor n Cambodia.
The north attracts adventure tourists and nature lovers who after a few days explore the city of Chiang Mai often head to the mountains for trekking though the wonderful scenery into hill tribe villages. Go white water rafting or enjoy more leisurely pursuits such as bird watching.
Thailand’s south is home to exotic islands ringed by pure white sand and a turquoise ocean. Here visitors can check – in to a luxurious beach front resort, go scuba diving and experience revitalizing spa treatments by day, and dine on exquisite Thai seafood by night.
For a holiday of a lifetime, Thailand has it all.
Bangkok
Bangkok is without doubt one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in Asia, it is bustling modern metropolis, a paradise for shoppers and a favourite destination for nighttime revelers, yet Bangkok still manages to retain its historic and cultural heart, With the advent of the sky train and the underground the inner city area is now a breeze to navigate, Beneath the bras modern exterior and traffic-clogged streets lie pockets of calm and tranquility that reveal the more spiritual side if Thai people.
Chiang Mai
The city of Chiang Mai was established in 1296AD and for many centuries was the capital of the independent northern Thai Kingdom of Lanna and an important centre of Buddhism. Today, the legacy of this ancient heritage is visible throughout the city the center, which is still defined by the remnants of the old city walls and protective moat. Within and without these walls are many temples which have been built continuously since the city was founded and are a constant reminder of the proud cultural legacy of Chiang Mai.
Pattaya
Located on these east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya is one of the most popular tourist resorts in the country. The youngest and often most talked-about city in Thailand sees approximately five million people descend on its shores each year from destinations across the world Despite the somewhat seedy reputation Pattaya has, there are many families and young couples who arrive to take advantage of the beautiful coastline year-round good weather and abundance of activities. I for many centuries, Pattaya was nothing more than a small fishing village which held no real appeal for any travelers. However this all changed in 1961 when a group of approximately 100 American servicemen arrived from the Vietnam Ware for respite. This marked the beginning of Pattaya as we know it today. it was soon transformed into a beach resort that aimed to cater to the growing number or servicemen. Hotels and restaurants replaced the fishermen’s huts along the beach and girlie bars and entertainment complexes replaced small local convince stores. The resort’s infamous reputation was born.
Phuket
Mention water sports, luxury resorts, sandy beaches, exotic nightlife and Thailand in the same sentence and most probably the first thing that will come to many people’s mind is the tropical island of Phuket. With seemingly unlimited list of things to see and do on an island surrounded by the warms azure waters of the Andaman Sea, Phuket is understandably one of the foremost travel destinations in South East Asia. Situated off the west coast of southern Thailand, Phuket is just under 900kms from Bangkok and the island is well served by both domestic and international airlines. For decades Phuket had derived its wealth from the tin extracted from open-pit and strip mines, but today it’s the tourist dollar that makes the province one of the wealthiest in the country. Half a million permanent residents are believed to call the island home while the number of incoming tourists each year is believed to be ten times that amount. The peak season for tourism in Phuket is during the northern hemisphere’s ‘winter season’ December – March, a period when the island is blessed with north-easterly breezes and temperatures averaging around 25c-32c. The busiest period of the peak tourist season is around Christmas and New years. Along the islands west coast – in areas such as Patong, kata and karong - travelers can choose from a huge range of accommodation that covers all testes and budgets while making the most of a range of fun filled or relaxing activities. The less developed northern areas of the island offer a more relaxed tempo and include historical sites, wats (temples) and lush national parkland, it’s also where the island’s international airport is situated. There are also over 30 smaller islands included as part of the broader Phuket province; many of which have been developed for tourism in some way. Phuket is also a gateway to a greater number of islands in the Andaman Sea; many of them are relatively untouched an accessible via boat.
Samui
The Ko Samui of today is changing however, and the cheap fan bungalows are increasingly hard to come by. Most accommodation is either mid-range or top-end; beachfront properties boasting beautifully decorated rooms, crisp white sheets’ lush gardens and lavish pools.
Despite its up market trend, Ko Samui still offers something for everyone. There are crowded beaches where young boys peddle coconuts and mangoes to oil-slicked, bikini-clad tourists, and jet skis churn up whitewash on clear seas. There are isolated spits where serenity and seclusion are the name of the game and you can escape the sun in simple air-con cottages and check out the latest MTV video. There are cheap food stalls and top-class restaurants, crowded modern shopping strips with starbucks, McDonald’s and store after store featuring knock-off von Dutch T-shirts and Gucci sunglasses; as well as stretches of rough dirt roads and ramshackle huts. Western bars dish up burgers and chips and pump classic tunes from giant speakers late into the night. Lady-boys and beautiful girls in strappy sandals and tight skirts seek out customers in side alleys, while drunken Westerners pound the keyboards at late-night internet cafes.
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