A Travelling in Thailand
Thailand has borders with Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It is landlocked to the north but has a long coastline to the south bordering onto the Gulf of Thailand to the south and east, and the Andaman sea to the west – where the major tourist resort of Phuket and neighbouring islands are to be found.
It was the south that was badly affected by the tsunami surge wave that hit six provinces in 2004 resulting in five thousand deaths and eight thousand injuries. The country’s major industries include tourism and IT, electronics, and vehicle manufacturing. According to the Foreign Office Thailand’s economy made a good recovery from the Asian financial crisis in 1997 with average annual growth of around 6 per cent between 2002 and 2004.
Rising oil prices caused inflation to increase to six per cent in the first quarter of 2006. The Bank of Thailand reacted by raising the short term interest rates. The Foreign Office rates Thailand’s human rights record as ‘generally good’.
Demonstrations for or against past governments were common and recent large scale street protests had passed off peacefully.
However, political activities are currently banned, as are groups of demonstrations involving more than five people. The Foreign Office rates the threat if terrorism throughout Thailand as ‘high’. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places including those places frequented by foreigners. The ‘fluid border’ with Burma is also a potential problem with large numbers of refugees, illegal immigrants and drugs crossing into Thailand. Relations with Cambodia have also caused concerns in the past.
The Foreign Office also warns visitors that penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs are severe and can include the death penalty, which the Thai Government has used as a high profile part of its fight against drugs.
‘There has been a number of incidents where tourists have had their drinks drugged (in both tourist areas and red light districts)’. British passport holders may enter Thailand for up to thirty days, without obtaining a visa in advance of arrival. Longer stays require an extension.