Amazing Thailand Presentation

December 2012

Awards 2011-2012

• Best Wedding Destination and Best Country 2011- by Travel and Leisure (India)

• Favorite Country 2012 by Conde Nast Traveller (India)

• Most Popular wedding destination by Hospitality India

• Best Destination for Filming 2012 by Cinemascapes

Thailand: Facts and Figures

Constitutional Monarchy

Area: 513,120 square kilometers

Located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, towards the south east of Burma

Population as of 2011: 66.7 million people

Capital City: Bangkok

Population of Bangkok: 9.8 Million people

5 main regions: Central, North, South, Northeast, East

Thailand: Facts and Figures

Thai is the national language

Baht: 1 baht = 100 satangs

1 Baht = INR 1.7

Calling code +66

Main religion is Buddhism: 95% of population

Economy thrives on tourism, rice, textiles & footwear, fishery, rubber, jewelry, electronics

Tourist Map of Thailand

Why Thailand?

Getting In Tourist Visa :

VFS offices in major cities (VFS timing is 08.00-10.00 hrs. & 12.00-16.00 hrs. Monday-Friday)

http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/ Visa on Arrival Facility available at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Validity is for 3 months from entry date.

Visa fee = Rs 2,000. VFS fee = Depends on the state. On arrival = 1,000 baht.

3 working days for visa processing. Requirements: Photo on white background, 80% of face. Information on hotel in Thailand. Must have minimum US$500 on EACH person.

Up to 1 liter of alcohol and 200 cigarettes exempt from duty.

Getting Around

Bangkok has heavy traffic. Advance trip planning needed.

Hotels with easy access to BTS, MRT, boats and taxis are highly recommended.

Options for getting around Bangkok – MRT (subway), BTS (Skytrain), taxis, tuk tuks, buses, boats, motorcycles, walking.

Bangkok taxis have meters, starting at 35 baht.

Tuk tuks and motorbikes needs to be negotiated before hiring.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Air: Local airlines for city to city connections such as Thai Airways, Bangkok

Airways, Nok Air, Orient Thai and Thai Air Asia Allow plenty of time for plane connections, especially if getting

visa on arrival Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways fly from Suvarnabhumi

whereas Air Asia, Nok Air and Orient Thai fly from the Don Mueang Airport. This may be of importance when there is a connecting flight .

Rail: Thailand has an extensive and safe rail network. Northern Line & Southern Line depart from Bangkok. Trains departs daily from Bangkok. Economical and great way to see countryside. No train service to Ko Samui. Train runs to Surat Thani on mainland and connect by ferry to Ko

Samui. www.thailandbytrain.com

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Road: Rental & self-drive options available from hotels, airports and city centers. Good highways and facilities. English-language signs. Right-hand drive. International driving permit needed. Samui, Phuket ,Khao lak and Krabi can also be visited by car since the

roads and highway are very good.

Bus: Economical & frequent. Bus trip possible to Phuket (14 hours)/Chiang Mai (9

hours)/Pattaya (1.5 hours). Several leave from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Taxis: Are widely available. Long trips are not metered. Vans good for families

and small groups.

Boat: Ferries safe & convenient. Ferries are available daily to Ko Samui, Ko

Phangan, Phi Phi. Phuket-Krabi boats available.

Travel Essentials

Best time for good weather is October-February.

Best time for deals is May-September.

Many banks do not exchange Rupees into Baht.

Book rooms well in advance if going during peak season

Buy Thai SIM cards. They are cheap. (1-2 call, DTAC or True network)

Need international driving license to drive in Thailand.

Check Thailand news for your clients or call us.

Introducing the City of Angels

BANGKOK: Voted World’s Best City By Readers of Travel + Leisure The capital has everything under the sun: Shopping,

Nightlife, Great Food, Temples, Tours, Theme Parks, and much more.

Luxury and budget hotels for all. Value for money always. Safe and convenient to get around. Center of culture & commerce. Awesome food: Thai, Indian, International, seafood,

vegetarian, etc. Some of the finest restaurants in the world like Sirocco, Vertigo, Red Sky.

Exciting entertainment all day, all night: Pubs, bars, discos, cinemas, live music, night markets, Karaoke, eateries etc.

Parks, museums, zoos, concerts and plays. Bowling, jogging, horse racing, ice skating, video games.

Shop Till You Drop

Shopping, shopping, shopping!

Best buys in all of Asia!

VAT refund of 7% for tourists.

Bargaining possible in many malls and stores.

Major shopping areas linked either by MRT or BTS

Get electronics and mobile phones, trendy clothes, toys. (iPads/iPhones, Sony Bravia LCDs/LEDs, Nokia, etc.)

MBK Centre, Indra Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Platinum Mall, Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Siam Square, Sukhumvit Rd., Chinatown, Pantip Plaza, Khaosan Road, malls and superstores like Big C, Tesco Lotus and Carrefour, etc.

Shopping Experience

MBK Siam Paragon Central World Chatuchak Weekend Market Terminal 21

Asiatique-The Riverfront

Bangkok’s newest addition of malls offering an experience for style and sophistication and includes shopping, dining, culture and colonial-style architecture.

Big open-air mall with river views located on Chareonkrung Road, near the Chao Phraya River.

Joe Louis Puppet Theatre   Asiatique The Riverfront is opened from 5pm to

midnight.

Sightseeing in Bangkok

Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) Queen Sirikit Museum of

Textiles Grand Palace

Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)

Temple of Dawn

Art of The Kingdom at Anathasamakom Palace 

Tours to Thrill and Enlighten

Leisure: Theme park & Cultural Shows in Bangkok Safari World Siam Park Siam Niramit Show Calypso Cabaret Siam Ocean World Madame Tussauds Bangkok Joe Louis Puppet Theatre

Around Bangkok:

Rose Garden Riverside Ancient City Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm Dream World Floating markets

The City that Never Sleeps

Thai cooking courses/Food tours Chao Phraya River dinner cruises Bicycle tours Thai boxing Golfing and driving ranges Canal tours Meditation Tuk tuk urban tours Learn Thai massage Pub crawls

Pattaya-Fun in the sun

Located just 150 km from Bangkok.

2 hours drive by car or by bus.

Asia’s premier beach resort.

Famous for its beaches and pulsating nightlife.

Excellent Indian and seafood. Fine malls and factory outlets

Attractions of Pattaya

Alangkarn Theatre Tiffany’s & Alcazar cabarets Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Mini-Siam Sriracha Tiger Zoo Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Flight of the Gibbon

New Destination: Koh Chang

Asia's top five tropical island paradises, voted by CNNgo.com.

Beautiful beaches, coves and bays around the island

Colourful coral reefs and clear blue sea which makes it a diving and snorkeling paradise.

5 hours drive from Bangkok and 3 hours from Pattaya

1 hour flight by Bangkok Airways

Royal Retreat: Hua Hin

3-hour drive southwest of Bangkok.

Summer retreat of Royal Family for years.

Perfect for Indian weddings.

Excellent spas, golfing and laid-back stays.

Shopping in Hua Hin Hua Hin Night Market Hua Hin Market Village Plernwarn Factory Outlets: Nine West, Billabong, Nike

New Destination: Cha-am Cha-am, located adjacent to Hua Hin, offers

a wide variety of things to see and do.

The beach of Cha-am stretches over 7 kms and all water activities and sports can be done here.

Some Attractions are:

New amusement park – “Santorini” which features a giant ferris wheel, bungee jumping, factory outlets and other attractions.

Premium Shopping Outlets

Beautiful Hotels and Resorts.

Two for the Road

KANCHANABURI 3 hours west of Bangkok. Jungles, mountains, waterfalls and plenty of history. Tiger Temple, Bridge on River Kwai, Death Railway,

Allied War Cemetery and national parks. 1,000 baht for photo with tiger. Chilled-out riverside vibe. Rustic lodges, raft

houses, camping, trekking, thriving backpacker scene.

AYUTTHAYA Thailand’s 2nd capital 1 hour north of Bangkok by road. Excellent for day trip by boat or car. Can be reached by cruise or even a weekend boat

tour. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Majestic ruins & superb

temples. Ideal place for history lovers, antiques, temple ruins.

Wild, Wine and Wow: Khao Yai

Less than two hours drive from Bangkok,

An ideal getaway for the wine lovers with NEW LATITUDE WINE!! Wine tasting tours at the vineyards of Thailand’s

award-winning labels Explore vineyards on a horse carriage Grape harvest competition at PB Valley Khaoyai

Winery or GrandMonte

Good for Kids Adventure, Family Fun, Amazing Thrills, Team Challenges or even Fear Factor activities

Life Park at the Greenery Resort with exciting activities like ATV, Zorb Ball, and Rock Climbing amongst other activities.

For Golf lovers, Khao Yai offers WoW Golf courses, one of which is equipped with a Helipad.

Khao Yai National Park

Thailand's first national park. UNESCO World Heritage Site Covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers. 3,000 species

of plants, 320 species of birds and 66 species of mammals. Beautiful waterfalls, which includes the 80 meters Heo

Narok, and Heo Suwat made famous from the film The

Beach.  Activities for visitors: wildlife spotting, nature trails, bird

watching, Kayaking, Rafting, Night time wild life spotting

and Observation towers around the national parks. 

Andaman Awesomeness: Phuket

1 hour 20 minutes flight by Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia..

Pearl of Andaman Sea Absolutely stunning resorts on world-class

beaches. Patong beach is the main beach of Phuket

Famous Attractions: Phuket FantaSea Phi Phi Islands / Phangnga Bay cruises/James

Bond Island Golfing, water sports, diving, sea

kayaking/canoeing Luxury spas in spectacular settings.

Khao Lak

No direct flight to Khao Lak, Flights are till Krabi or Phuket.

60 kilometers by road from Phuket.

Quiet, upscale and family-friendly.

Ideal for weddings and honeymoons.

Beautiful for diving and snorkeling.

Andaman Awesomeness: Krabi

1.5 hours flight from Bangkok by Thai Airways or Air Asia Pleasant, serene and most romantic. Thailand’s No. 1 honeymoon spot. Ao Nang is the most famous Beach, followed by Rai Leh. Accommodation ranges from guest houses to 5-star properties. Fantastic beaches. Location of ‘Kaho Na Pyar Hai’, ‘The Beach’,

‘Around the World in 80 Days’, ‘The Hangover Part II’. Rock climbing, diving, canoeing, fishing, beach sports.

Gulf Getaways-Koh Samui

1 hour 10 minute flight to Koh Samui by Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways

Pristine, idyllic beaches. Quiet, peaceful, romantic.

Perfect for honeymoons and island excursions. Sea kayaking, cruises, diving, snorkeling,

sophisticated dining with a view. Luxury resorts with private beaches, pool villas. Famous beach: Chawaeng beach and fisherman’s

village

Mountain Magic-Chiang Mai

1 hour flight with Thai Airways or Air Asia from

Bangkok

Asia’s finest mountain destination

Luxury city and mountain resorts. Great for

weddings.

High quality of life, friendly people, refined

handicrafts, cool climate and stunning

mountain scenery.

Genuine adventure with jungle tours, river

rafting, elephant rides, and hill tribe visits.

Mountain Magic-Chiang Mai

Unsurpassed shopping for handicrafts, silk, silverware, teakwood furniture, and home decorations.

Famous attractions: Temples, Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Night market

From Chiang Mai, visitors can visit neighboring cities such as Chiang Rai  (2 hours by car), Lampang (30 minutes) ,and Lampoon, Mea Hongsorn for trekking  & nature lover

Thailand- A Golfer’s Paradise

Over 200 golf courses in Thailand

Built to top international standards, designed by famous course builders such as Robert Trent Jones jr., Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo…

Variety of choices: Beachside, Helipad, Mountain side

Green fees are moderate

Caddies are a delight-friendly and knowledgeable

Around Bangkok, Khao Yai, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Phuket, Chiang Mai

Beauty and Wellness (Traditional and Modern spas and retreats)

Wat Pho Oasis Spa RarinJinda Vital Life (Bamrungrad Hospital) Asia Herb Association Tamarind Springs

Thailand for Kids Siam Ocean World and 3D

experience

Sri Racha Tiger Zoo

Siam Park

Madame Tussauds

Children Discovery Museum

Dream World

Safari World

Splash Jungle Water Park (Phuket)

Mini Golf (Phuket)

Thailand as a wedding destination

• 'Land of Smiles’: you will always be served with a smile.• All the staff will go out of their way to be helpful and ensure

your experience is as wonderful as can be. • ‘Everything is possible’ mindset , makes everyone

approachable, and leads to you feeling at home away from home!

• You can expect a warm, intimate wedding, surrounded by family and your most special friends.

• Flexibility of cuisine- from in house chef to catering services or even bring your own chef!

Bangkok: City Center and Riverside

Beach WeddingsPattaya, Hua Hin , Phuket, Koh Samui, Khao Lak,

Krabi, Koh Chang & Rayong

Mountain Side WeddingsChiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khao Yai &

Kanchanaburi

Indian Restaurants in Bangkok

Akbar

Indus

Bawarchi

India Host

Tandoor

Dosa King

Rang Mahal

Food courts of department stores have vegetarian options.

Do's and Don'ts in Thailand

Thais are known for their tolerance and hospitality

Average tourist will have no difficulty in adjusting to local customs

As in any unfamiliar society, a visitor should, nevertheless, be aware of certain do’s and don'ts to avoid offending people unintentionally.

Do’s

Do respect Buddha images. All Buddha images, large or small, ruined or not, are regarded as sacred.

Dress properly when visiting a temple. Remove shoes before entering a temple, somebody’s house and

even some shops. Treat monks with the highest respect. Try and keep calm no matter what the problem or provocation may

be. Do eat with a spoon. Use the fork to load food on to the spoon. Do make your bookings and reservations for any activity through

authorized travel agents Lower your body slightly when passing between or in front of

people. Try and learn a few basic phrases in Thai, like ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’. Do smile a lot. Do enjoy yourself. Thais like life to be sanuk.

Don’ts

Don’t show disrespect towards the Thai Royal Family.

Don’t point your feet at anyone or at images of Buddha.

Don’t raise your voice or lose your temper.

Don’t use the services of unlicensed guides and travel services.

Don’t be rude to Thai women.

Don’t get drunk off the plane or offend immigration officials.

For more information…

Website: http://amazingthailand.co.in/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TourismAuthorityofThailandIndia

E-mail: tatdel@tat.or.th

Contact Number: 011- 41663567-69

Thank you.