Tourism in Thailand
A small country
that contains many amazing things and attracts many tourists in “South East
Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the South China” (Thiro 10) is called
Thailand or “
Land of Smile.”
It is one of the best countries that are full of natural beauty.
Thailand is called “
Land of Smile”
because Thai people are very friendly, easily to smile, and are nice to
everyone. If we talk about
Thailand,
some people think about spicy delicious foods, some about nice beaches or while
others, about kick boxing which is the traditional sport of
Thailand.
After years, Thailand is
getting more tourists and that is increasing each year according to Thai Airlines.
“It flew 3.13 million
passengers in the first two months of 2006, an increase of almost 12 per cent
from last year” (The New Zealand Herald). This shows that Thailand is now
well-known to people around the world and gets more attention from many
tourists. According to The Nation, the figure of 14.8 million
total international tourist arrivals was 8 per cent higher than a previous
target. The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) expects to increase Vietnamese
arrivals from 227,000 in 2006 to 267,000 this year. Most visitors come, visit,
and spend their time for vacation in Thailand. Many tourists would love
to live long enough in Thailand
to visit most of the places. Even more, some people are more likely to spend
their time there for the rest of their lives. There are a lot of attractive beaches,
food, medical facilities and festivals which lure tourists to Thailand.
First of all, one
of the best reasons to go to Thailand
is their beaches. Thailand
has a lot of islands. Most of them are well-known to people around the world. For
example, Phuket is known as one of the most beautiful beaches on Earth. It has
very fresh air, clean beaches, and the water is clear enough to see fishes. “Phuket
is Thailand’s largest island
and one of the most popular vacation destinations in Southeast
Asia, attracting up to one million visitors each year. At 48 km (30
miles) long and covering 550 sq km (210 sq miles), it is a province in itself-
and the wealthiest in the country. The Northern tip of the island is separated
from the mainland by only a narrow channel of sea, over which runs the 700-m
(765-yd) long Sarasin Bridge” ( Thailand 348).
Some tourists enjoy
deep water diving, others fishing or even jet skiing, which is a great choice
for
Thailand.
Phuket is located in the south of
Thailand
next to
Andaman Sea (Wilkins 6).
“The
research indicates Phuket is increasingly attracting investors from the top end
of the market. This area is fast developing into the pinnacle of luxury travel
in Southeast Asia. The hills stretching from
Surin beach have long been known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’” (
The Nation Thailand). This shows that
Thailand’s beaches have now hit top
level of the market.
Secondly, tourists love the original Thai food. Every
food in this world has their own attractive taste, and some foods attract
people and make people want to repeat same kind of food again and again. Thai
food is one of them that have their own traditional taste that attract people,
not only Thai people but tourists or people from other countries too. These
days Thai food has spread out around the world; however it is the best to taste
Thai food in Thailand.
For example in Thailand,
one of the most popular Thai
dishes is called tom yum gung. “The broth is prepared with various herbs, and
then pieces of chicken, fish, or prawns are added. Once the ingredients are
tender, lemon juice is added, along with prik-kee-nook, and the soup is
always brought to the table piping hot” (Wilkins 76). In contrast, in the
restaurants in the United
States, “tom yum soup is a clear broth with shrimp, a balance between
spicy and sour; each mouthful is has chili, tomatoes, scallions, and mushrooms” (Luisa). This
shows that they make them in different ways; however the feedback from most
people is almost the same, in good way. Among all-Thai
noodles, Phat Thai is the popular. “Phat Thai is a mixture of flat rice noodles
fried with bean curd, vegetables, egg, peanuts, and dried shrimp. It is claimed
to be Thailand’s national
dish” (Thailand
408). “Thai food has been described
by many food experts as one of the tastiest and most nutritious foods out
there” (Cerralbo). This demonstrates that Thai food attract
a lot of people and make them want to come back for Thai food again. This leads
to the popularity of Thai food world wide.
Thirdly, tourist
visit Thailand
because of their culture. Thailand
is one of the richest countries in culture. People in Thailand
celebrate a lot of festivals. Thai New Year, “Songkran,” is the Thai
traditional New Year which starts on April 12-14 every year. The days change
each year as they follow the lunar calendar (Thailand 42). “A 13th century inscription reads:
‘Whoever wants to make merry, does so; whoever wants to laugh, does so’” (Thailand 42).
They start their new year by playing with water because it is celebrate during
the hottest time of the year. Whoever outside has to be wet. Some even wait
outside their houses to wet and color others. Some people use powders to
prevent revelers from sunburn. “They all offer traditional ways of observing
the holiday, such as releasing birds and fish from captivity, making merit by
giving alms to the monks, paying respect to elderly people, and attending a
local Miss Songkran Beauty Contest” (Thailand Travel Planner 24). During this
festival younger people throw water at their friends or peers but when it comes
to the elders and monks, they pay respect by sprinkling their hands with
perfumed water (Thailand
226).
Finally, tourists
visit Thailand
for medical surgery. “Last year, we realized a 20% increase in international
patient volume, which admitted 264,000 international patients in 2002, generating
about $25 million in revenue” (Normandy Madden). Tourists who come here for
medical surgery not only get the surgery but are also able to enjoy the clean
beaches.
“The trend started in 1997, when Thailand’s
currency collapsed and local hospitals, desperate for cash to care for Thai
citizen, turned to foreigner happy to pay the relatively low prices at a
handful of clean, Westerner-operated Thai Hospitals-followed by a few days in
one of the country’s plush resorts. Most “Medical tourists” are looking for
elective procures that insurance companies do not cover. Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital offer everything from nose jobs
to sex change operations” (Normandy Madden).
In Thailand patients don’t have to
wait in a long time to get the surgery done. It is quiet fast and more comfortable
compared to hospitals in the United
States. The services provided by the nurses
are quiet good and this attracts a lot of tourist from different parts of the
world.
Tourism in Thailand is
booming. More likely, the number of tourist will increase every year. They
visit Thailand
for the clean beaches, Thai Food, cheap medical surgery and Thai festivals.
They won’t hesitate to come back when they have free time. Thailand or “Land of Smile,”
seems to be one of the best places for tourists to spend their time and
relax.
If you are looking for a holiday destination in Asia, then Thailand is the place to go, offering something for everyone. Here is the best selection of hotels in Thailand to fit your travel budget and preferences. Discounts for 526,834 Hotels Worldwide. Consisting of 77 regions, each with its own unique appeal, the country offers visitors plenty of different areas to explore. You can find the perfect hotel at the lowest rate for stays in cities such as Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya. Choose your travel dates.
Works
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