Thailand

Thailand is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma.

Climate: Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid.

Population: 67,089,500

Currency: Baht (THB)

Exchange Rates: baht per US dollar - 31.663 (2010), 34.286 (2009), 33.37 (2008)

Time Zone: (UTC+7)

Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects.

Visitors Web site: www.tourismthailand.org

Other Information

• Highly educated population with a 96% literacy rate
• A leader in heavy chemical and technology-intensive industries (electronics and information)
• Originally inhabited by aborigines of Malayan descent, settlers from mainland China and their descendents now comprise Taiwan's majority
• Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch colonial influences
• Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese and Hakka are mainly spoken
• Lush mountains, pulsating cities, stunning basalt cliffs, excellent hiking and some of the world's finest hot springs