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Area: 513,115 sq km (196,512 sq mi)
Population: 62.4m
Capital City: Bangkok (9.4m)
People (main ethnicity): Thai, Chinese, Malay
Languages: Thai
Religion(s): Buddhist (94%), Muslim (5%), Other (inc. Christian, Hindu 1%)
Currency: Baht
Major political parties: Ruling Coalition: Thai Rak Thai Party, Chart Thai Party. Opposition: Democrat Party
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Prime Minister/Premier: Dr Thaksin Shinawatra
Foreign Minister: Dr Surakiart Sathirathai
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC),

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77),

Non Aligned Movement (NAM), World Trade Organisation (WTO), BIMSTEC, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) (observer),

Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE) (observer).

(Note on Thai Names: Thai people generally have two names, the first being the given name and the second the family name.

Nevertheless, if only one name is used, it should be the first, eg. Prime Minister Thaksin.)

GEOGRAPHY

Area: 513,155 sq km, divided into four administrative regions and 76 administrative provinces (plus Bangkok).
Cities: Bangkok (pop. 9.4m), Nakorn Ratchasima (430,000), Chiang Mai (257,000)
Terrain: Central plain; plateau in Northeast; mountain range in North and West; Gulf of Thailand; islands and isthmus joining

Malaysia in South
Climate: Tropical; three seasons – monsoon (June to October), cool (November to February), hot (March to May)
Neighbouring Countries: Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia

HISTORY

Recent History

The Kingdom of Thailand has been ruled since 1782 by the Chakri dynasty based in Bangkok. Formerly called Siam,

the country was officially renamed Thailand in 1939 (although the old name was briefly reinstated from 1945-49).

'Thai' refers to the ethnicity of most of the population, as well as having connotations of freedom. Thailand is the

only South-East Asian country to have avoided colonisation. In 1932 a bloodless coup stripped the King of his

absolute powers, transforming the country into a constitutional monarchy and handing power to a mixed military-

civilian government. The military faction soon gained the upper hand and retained it for most of the next 60 years,

intervening frequently to end brief periods of civilian rule. While stifling democracy, the military sided with

business and bureaucrats in promoting economic development, partly to limit the spread of communism.

The resulting expansion of the middle class contributed to growing pressure for civilian rule and a series of

confrontations between the military and pro-democracy activists. The most recent confrontation, in May 1992,

led to the resignation of the military leadership and unbroken civilian rule, which has seen five peaceful changes of

government. Thailand is now one of the liveliest democracies in South-East Asia.

Longer Historical Perspective

The geographical area of Thailand has been inhabited for thousands of years, but the country's emergence as

a nation is

usually traced back to the Sukothai Kingdom (1238-1376), which saw the introduction of the Thai writing system and

the first efforts to codify the Thai form of Theravada Buddhism. Sukothai was later eclipsed by Ayuthaya,

which served as Siam's capital for over 400 years before its destruction in 1765 by Burmese invaders.

After a brief period of rule from Thonburi (1769-82), the first Chakri monarch ascended the throne in 1782 and

moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok. The Chakri kings consolidated Siam's territorial

boundaries and introduced a wide range of social, legal and administrative reforms, including the establishment of

a professional civil service. King Mongkut (1851-68) and King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) played key roles in

this process, opening Siam to outside influence while managing, through skilful diplomacy,

to preserve its independence.

POLITICS

Recent Political Developments

Since the last military coup in May 1992, Thailand has enjoyed almost a decade of rule by democratically elected

governments and a far-reaching process of political reform. The year 1997 saw two watershed events: the economic

crisis in July, and the adoption of a new Constitution in October. The progressively worded Constitution aimed at

improving the selection of political office holders, reducing the scope for corruption and promoting human rights.

Implementation of the new provisions has not always lived up to expectations, partly due to the time involved in

revising legislation, but the overall impact on Thailand's political landscape has been significant.

Former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's Democrat-led government pushed through many of the reforms specified in

the Constitution and made a start on turning around the economy, but gradually lost public support in the run-up to

the January 2001 general election. The election was won convincingly by the new Thai Rak Thai

('Thais Love Thais') Party, led by Thaksin Shinawatra, a former police officer who made his fortune in the

mobile phone business before entering politics in his early 40s. Prime Minister Thaksin now heads a two-party

coalition with a controlling majority (335 seats out of 500) in the House. His success reflects his popular appeal as

a 'hands-on' manager willing to 'think anew, act anew'. His campaign promises (e.g. universal health scheme for all,

debt suspension for farmers) were carefully crafted to appeal to the key rural voters. He has maintained a

high level of popularity throughout the first three years of his administration.

Elections

The 1997 Constitution established an Electoral Commission to enforce new rules aimed at discouraging

vote-buying and other fraud. These rules were tested on 4 March 2000 during Thailand's first ever elections to the

Senate (previously an appointed body). The impact was significant, with numerous seats having to be re-contested

several times before all 200 Senators could convene on 1 August 2000. Under the new Constitution, Senators are

forbidden to have party political links and can serve only one six-year term.

On 6 January 2001, the Electoral Commission organised the first ever general election under the new

Constitutional rules. 500 seats were on offer in the House of Representatives

(400 constituency MPs plus 100 MPs appointed from party lists based on each party's proportion of the national vote).

Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party easily defeated the Democrats. The remaining seats went mainly to

Chart Thai, New Aspiration, Chart Pattana and Seritham. Seritham, New Aspiration and Chart Pattana have since

merged with Thai Rak Thai. Thai Rak Thai in coalition with Chart Thai maintain a comfortable majority in Parliament.

In addition to national Parliamentary elections, Thailand has seen a variety of local elections over the past few years.

Samak Sundaravej's tenure as Governor of Bangkok will ended in July. On 29 August, the Democrat Party candidate,

Apirak Kosayodhin, was elected as his successor with 37% of the vote.

ECONOMY

Basic Economic Facts

GDP: US$ 143bn (2003)
GDP per head: US$ 2,198 (2003)
Annual growth: 6.8% (2003)
Inflation: 1.8% (2003)
Major industries: Service including tourism, Manufacturing including vehicles and electronics, Agriculture
Major trading partners: US, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and UK
Aid & development: Total international aid: US$71 million (2002), from bilateral and multilateral donors.
Exchange rate: £1=Bt74 (June 2004)

Thailand's economic achievements of the early 1990s, when it was the fastest growing economy in the world,

were thrown into reverse by the Asian financial crisis August 1997. Since then Thailand's economy has made a

good recovery, but has been hampered by the slow pace of reform in the financial and corporate sectors.

The Finance Ministry estimate growth for 2003 at 6.8%. The Prime Minister anticipates growth of 8% for 2004

and 10% for 2005, fuelled by continuing export growth with increased private and infrastructure investment.

The slowed global economic recovery and unstable oil prices may make this difficult to achieve.

To prime the economy Prime Minister Thaksin has been implementing the expansionary programmes he had promised

during his election campaign - 'village funds' and debt rescheduling for farmers and increased lending to small and

medium sized enterprises (SMEs), but non-performing loans remain a burden to the recovery of Thai financial

institutions.

The Thai government has established a Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC) to take over

non-performing loans from public and private banks to encourage the banking system to extend new credit and

stimulate economic activity. Public sector debt has risen significantly and remains a concern.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) was the world's best performing bourse in 2003 gaining 116%, but

remained well below its pre-1997 crisis level. The index has since fallen amidst concerns of oil price uncertainties.

The renewed confidence in the SET prompted the government to resume the stalled programme of

privatisation of state enterprises.

The increased confidence in the Thai economy coupled with the weakening of the US dollar, has seen the

Baht appreciate almost 10% over 2003. Cautious of speculation against the Baht, the Bank of Thailand has intervened

in the domestic money market and introduced legislation to control speculation within Thailand.

These measures coupled with impacts on the global economy, have caused the Baht to slide back slightly against

the dollar, hitting a nine month low in May 2004.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Thailand's Relations with Neighbours

Prime Minister Thaksin's foreign policy has focused primarily on enhancing increasingly close ties with ASEAN

(Association of South East Asian Nations) neighbours, China and India. Thailand is a founder member of ASEAN,

and takes a leading role in the region.

Thailand's biggest foreign policy challenge is Burma. The long, fluid border between the two countries sees

large numbers of refugees, illegal immigrants and drugs pass from Burma into Thailand. There have been occasional

cross border skirmishes between their respective armed forces and terrorist incidents, with several dozen deaths.

The Thai/Burmese border was closed between May and October 2002 after one such incident. In December 2003

Thailand initiated the 'Bangkok Process' with Burma and other “Like Minded Countries” to take forward the process

of National Reconciliation in Burma.

Relations with Cambodia deteriorated sharply in January 2003 when anti-Thai riots erupted in Phnom Penh leading to

the burning down of the Thai Embassy and the premises of a number of Thai businesses.

Relations have improved since then.

Thailand's Relations with the International Community

Thailand was a close ally of the West during the cold war and is a long-term member of the United Nations.

It is increasingly active in the international arena and looks to maintain a balance between key partners: US,

China, Japan, EU and ASEAN. Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, a former Deputy Prime Minister, became the

Secretary General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2002, a first for Thailand.

Thai armed forces have undertaken peacekeeping duties in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Afghanistan, Aceh,

Indonesia and more recently, Iraq. Thailand was granted partner status in the Organisation for Security and

Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in November 2000 and held a seat on the UN Commission on Human Rights from 2001-2003.

The US granted Thailand the status of Major Non-NATO Ally in January 2004

Thailand's Relations with the UK

The Bowring Treaty of 1855 agreed to establish a British Consular presence in Siam. The first resident British envoy to

Siam arrived in 1875. We have had constant diplomatic relations with first Siam and later Thailand ever since.

The UK/Thailand bilateral relationship is close. The UK is perhaps the best known of all the European countries.

There is a sense of shared traditional values between the two nations, which manifests itself in close educational and

cultural contacts.

The UK and Thailand are partners in developing the Asia-Europe Meeting. Thailand hosted the inaugural ASEM in 1996 and

the UK the second in 1998. The UK, Thailand and the European Commission are co-partnering an ASEM project to

combat money laundering in Asia.

Diplomatic Representation

The Royal Thai Embassy in the UK opened in July 1882, when Prince Prisdang was received in audience by Queen Victoria,

at which he presented his credentials as Envoy of the King of Siam. The current Thai Ambassador to the UK is His Excellency

Mr Vikrom Koompirochana. He arrived in Britain in January 2003.

The British Embassy in Bangkok is staffed by 31 UK-based diplomats and 116 locally engaged staff, covering political,

economic, commercial, consular and visa issues. The current British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand is His Excellency

Mr David Fall. He arrived in Thailand in August 2003. The British Ambassador to Thailand is also accredited to Laos.

UK Development Assistance

The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral aid programme for Thailand. However small

scale UK assistance is provided through the Small Grant Scheme (administered by the British Embassy Bangkok) and support for

individual projects under Foreign and Commonwealth Office programme budgets.

Recently support has been given to projects focusing on child rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, landmine clearance, refugee issues,

peacekeeping training and combating transnational crime.

Trade and Investment with the UK

The UK is Thailand's largest export market in Europe. Imports from Thailand in 2003 were worth £1.69 billion

(up 4.9% on 2002 - £1.61 billion). UK exports to Thailand in 2003 were £573m (up 7.5% on 2002 - £532m).

The UK's top exports to Thailand include medicinal and pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery and appliances,

specialised industrial machinery and beverages. The UK's top imports from Thailand include electrical machinery and appliances,

office machines and equipment, road vehicles, telecommunications, and apparel and clothing accessories.

The UK is the largest European investor in Thailand. Long-established companies, such as Shell, BP, Unilever,

Standard Chartered and HSBC have been joined more recently by Tesco, Boots, Thames Water, Anglian Water,

International Power, Orange, Barclays Capital, Triumph, Cromwell Tools, Isotron and Grampian Foods.

Investments by these companies in recent years have amounted to over £2 billion. There is also considerable trade in services.

Thailand is a key market in South East Asia for UK companies. UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) work with commercial staff at

the Embassy to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investment;

and quality foreign direct investment. UKTI is also keen to promote UK privatisation experience in support of

Thai plans to privatise state enterprises.

Prime Minister Thaksin's foreign policy has focused primarily on promoting Thai economic and business interests

through closer economic links within Asia. He has pursued a dual-track policy of encouraging self-sufficiency through

the promotion of indigenous Asian strengths, while also welcoming foreign investment. Mixed messages with

nationalistic overtones are therefore common, but in practice the Thaksin government has done little to cause

real problems for foreign investors including those from the UK.

Cultural Relations with the UK

Football

English Premier League football enjoys a massive following in Thailand. Manchester United,

Liverpool and Arsenal each command a large number of supporters. Newcastle United visited in July 2004.

Music

British pop music comes behind only Japanese and American in popularity outside Thailand's own home-grown variety.

Bangkok has recently played host to Coldplay and Craig David. On the classical side Opera & Concert Productions and the

English National Opera, performed recently in Bangkok. In March 2004, the UK's European Chamber Opera performed at

the Sheraton Grande Hotel.

Theatre

In May 2004, The London-based theatre company 'Production Line' presented 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare'

at the Sheraton Grande Hotel. Performers from the Punchline Comedy Club appeared in Bangkok in March and May 2004.

Film

The British Film Festival took place in July 2004. The Cinematic Orchestra played at the Bangkok International Festival of

Dance & Music in October 2003. Courtney Pine will play at this year’s festival.

Tourism

There are around 8,000 British residents in Thailand, and 700,000 British tourists visited Thailand in 2003.

22,000 Thai tourists visited the UK in 2002.

Education

There are wide and longstanding educational links between Thailand and the UK and many cross-overs and connections

between the two countries' approaches to educational development. The annual Thai/UK education festival,

run by the British Council in Bangkok & Chiang Mai, helps reinforce this and demand remains high for English language

classes at the British Council Teaching Centres in Thailand. There are approx. 4400 Thai students studying in the UK.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports Thai scholars through the Chevening Scholarship Scheme for postgraduate studies.

21 awards were made in 2003. There are approx. 400 other full or partial awards available for Thai students to study in the UK.

Recent Visits

We enjoy frequent dialogue with the Thais at Royal, Ministerial and official level. UK-Thai relations have developed in

the last few years following the highly successful State Visit by HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1996.

Tony Blair met the then Thai Prime Minister, Chuan Leekpai in 1998 in the margins of ASEM II in London.

The Duke of York visited Thailand in December 1999 to participate in the King's auspicious 72nd birthday celebrations.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met Tony Blair in London in May 2002.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Thailand has a generally good human rights record. It remains one of the liveliest democracies in the region.

The military remains influential but, since 1992, has respected the principle of civilian rule. The Press, TV and

radio stations are largely free. Demonstrations for or against the government are common. Several regional

human rights NGOs are based in Bangkok and Thailand is a popular venue for international human rights meetings.

But the Thai government's 'Campaign against Drugs' in 2003 attracted adverse international attention.

Although official figures record the deaths of over 2600 people including over 40 killed by the police,

the Thai authorities claim that only a small number of these individuals were killed by the police acting

in self-defence and the remainder by rival drug gangs or by their own gang-leaders in fear of them turning informants.

However, satisfactory investigations into all these deaths have not been conducted.

Public opinion in Thailand remains behind the campaign.

There has been a resurgence of violence in the far south of Thailand since the beginning of 2004. On 28 April,

there were attacks on security forces in 10 locations in the far southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and

Songkhla. Over 100 militants were killed as well as 5 members of the security forces. 32 people were killed in the

Krue Se mosque in Pattani. An independent commission set up to investigate the mosque incident reported on 29 July

that Thai security forces had used disproportionate force, but cited certain mitigating factors.

The Thai government has a good history of offering save haven to Burmese refugees (currently 140,000 live in Thailand)

but in the past two years the Thai have refused to allow other refugees to cross into Thailand to escape fighting in Burma.

The Thai government has used the death penalty as a high profile part of its fight against drugs. In 2002,

there were 11 executions, mostly for drugs related offences. There were four executions in 2003 for murder and

drugs related offences. In October 2003 lethal injection replaced shooting as Thailand's method of execution.

Thailand's new Constitution, adopted in October 1997, was a major step forward for human rights. It created or

strengthened independent agencies designed to suppress corruption and protect citizens against abuses

of government power, e.g. the Election Commission, National Counter Corruption Commission and

National Human Rights Commission. It reinforced judicial independence,

and transformed the Senate from an appointed to a directly elected body, with stronger powers of oversight.

The British government's support for human rights work in Thailand aims to build on the progress achieved through

the 1997 Constitution. Of the six core UN human rights treaties, Thailand has ratified five.

This leaves only the Convention against Torture.

HEALTH

Thailand has a well-developed system of health care through a mixture of public and private hospitals.

Cover is provided under compulsory insurance schemes, or on a payment basis.

To make care more affordable the Thaksin administration has introduced a 30 Baht per visit health scheme.

The average life expectancy at birth is 67.3 years for men and 73.2 years for women which is good for the region.

Infant mortality rates have improved dramatically over the past 30 years, from 74 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1970,

to 21.5 in 2001.

Thailand's successful efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS have been recognised internationally.

However it is estimated that 700,000 people (more than 1% of the population) are currently infected with HIV or

have developed AIDS. Approximately 290,000 people have died of AIDS related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.

An outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in early 2004 led to the confirmed deaths of 8 people in Thailand.

The disease now appears to be under control.

THAILAND /Far East information from the FCO.gov.uk

Thai to Burma Border
You should exercise particular care if travelling near the Burma to Thai border. There is sporadic conflict in some sections

between the Burmese military and armed opposition groups as well as clashes between the Thai security forces and armed

criminal groups, such as drug traffickers. If you wish to visit remote or border areas you should consult the local authorities

for advice on the current situation at website: http://www.tourismthailand.org/

Travelling to Cambodia
There are two legal land crossing points into and out of Cambodia for foreigners: Aranyaprathet,

Prachin Buri Province to Poipet. Open daily 07:30 hours to 17:00 hours; and Klong Yai, Trad Province to Koh Kong.

Open daily 07:00 hours to 17:00 hours. British nationals need a visa for Cambodia

.
Crossing to Laos
Visas on arrival are available at the principal entry points, the Thai to Lao Friendship Bridge,

Luang Prabang and Vientiane Airports, on payment of 30 American Dollars cash and provision of

a passport photograph. A prior visa is required at all other entry points; not all are open to foreigners

Road Safety

Riding a motorcycle or scooter in Thailand can be dangerous. An average of five people an hour die

in motorcycle accidents in Thailand. You should take the same safety precautions as in the United Kingdom.

The Thai law that safety helmets must be worn is widely ignored:

a contributing factor in many tourist deaths each year.

The motorcycles or scooters available for hire in beach resorts are usually mopeds of less that 50cc.

They are not registered as a vehicle and cannot, consequently, be used legally on a public road.

Motorcycles or scooters of under 50cc and also some larger motorcycles are not insured and if there is an accident,

the hirer is responsible for any damage or loss of the vehicle or injury to a third party.

Before you hire these vehicles check the small print of the lease agreement carefully.

You should not hand over your passport as a guarantee against returning a motor scooter or cycle.

They can be held to ransom by unscrupulous owners against claimed damage to the motor scooter or cycle.

Sea Safety

There have been attacks against ships in and around Thailand's waters. Mariners are advised to be vigilant;

reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard;

and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.

You should take particular care when swimming off coastal areas, especially during monsoon season.

Strong riptides have resulted in a number of drownings in several areas including Phuket,

Koh Chang, Hua Hin/Cha-am and Pattaya.

Water sports and scuba diving: the standards maintained by diving schools and rescue services are not

always as high and comprehensive as they might be in the United Kingdom

. Those dive shops affiliated to major international training organisations are likely to run a better operation.

Check a dive operator's credentials carefully before using them.

Take care when swimming in the sea. Jellyfish can swim close to the shore, particularly during the rainy

season from May to October. Their sting can be fatal.

If in doubt take local advice e.g. from hotel management, dive centres.

River Safety

Particular care should be taken when swimming/diving/kayaking in the Mekong River or close to waterfalls.

Currents are extremely strong.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even very small quantities

can lead to imprisonment. Possession of Marijuana can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years plus

a fine of Baht 150,000 (£2,300). Amphetamines and Ecstasy are regarded as a class A drugs and

possession or trafficking of them carries the same penalties as, for example, heroin. Possession of 20 grams,

or over, of a class A drug at a point of exit from Thailand results in a charge of illegal possession, possession for

distribution and attempt to smuggle and export, i.e. trafficking. A guilty verdict usually attracts the death sentence.

By law, tourists are expected to carry their original passports at all times in Thailand.

There have been recent incidents where tourists have been arrested because they were unable to produce their passport.

It is a criminal offence to make critical or defamatory comments about the King or other members of the Royal family,

punishable by a sentence of 3 to 15 years.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visas   British passport holders are given entry for 30 days, without a visa, on arrival.

If you need a visa for longer periods contact: Thai representation in the UK.  Overstaying the period of entry

originally given by the Immigration Officer, without the proper authority, is a serious matter and you can be

held in detention until a fine is paid, currently 200 Baht a day with a maximum fine of 20,000 Baht.

The only legal way of obtaining a new visa, entry permit or extension of stay is from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate,

an Immigration Officer at a point of entry into Thailand or one of the Immigration Offices around the country.

Visas issued by visa shops, travel agents or by any other means are likely to be illegal and lead to criminal proceedings.

There have been several arrests of British nationals who have had illegal stamps in their passports.

If you are arrested on these charges you could face between one and ten years imprisonment and/or a large fine.

You would also be prohibited from entering Thailand again. Entry to Thailand is normally refused if you have a passport with

less than six months validity.   Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that

some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country,

.thaiembassyuk.org.uk   Airport tax   An airport tax of 500 Baht per person, not incorporated in tickets is payable on departure.

Foreign currency is not accepted. Airport tax for domestic flights is included in tickets. The exception is Koh Samui where there

is a domestic departure tax of 400 Baht per person.   Employment in Thailand   You need a work permit,

which is difficult to obtain, for legal employment in Thailand. If you enter Thailand on a tourist visa you are not

allowed to take up employment. Failure to observe this rule can lead to arrest and deportation.

The process to obtain a work permit is long and bureaucratic. Treat advertisements, for example,

for sales staff or currency trading advisers offering free flights and five star accommodation in Bangkok with

the utmost scepticism. Do not believe employers' claims to be able to circumvent the

Thai Immigration Regulations. If in doubt consult Thai representation in the UK.    
HEALTH

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.

27 People died, 16 in Vietnam and 11 in Thailand, following outbreaks of avian influenza (AI)

in parts of Asia earlier this year. There have been recent, renewed outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu)

amongst poultry in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Cambodia.

The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand have confirmed four deaths since September due to avian influenza in humans

. Though the risk of transmission of AI from infected poultry to humans is low, travellers to infected

areas area advised to avoid contact with poultry, live animal markets, and poultry farms and places where you may come

into contact with live poultry. For further information and up to date figures on the number of cases

please check the World Health Organisation (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/.

Information is also available at the Department of Health’s website at www.dh.gov.uk.

The most recent cluster of cases in Thailand is under investigation to determine whether

human to human transmission may have occurred..

There are excellent international hospitals in Bangkok but they can be expensive.

Ordinary hospitals and clinics in Thailand are not always up to UK standards.

This applies particularly to the coastal islands and many mainland districts outside of Bangkok,

where hospitals and clinics are not equipped to deal with major trauma. Many hospitals require the

authorisation to perform operations on patients and guarantee of payment for the hospital bills from

immediate next of kin. The Embassy cannot authorise doctors to carry out operations, nor can they

guarantee payment of hospital bills.

Travellers are advised to complete next of kin details in the back of their passports.

Seek medical advice about endemic diseases before travelling. Dengue fever is on the increase in Thailand.

There is no vaccine against the disease. The dengue-carrying mosquito is most active during the day and

you should use insect repellent.

Thailand has an epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS. Heterosexual transmission accounts for most

HIV infections and HIV is common among prostitutes of both sexes.

The World Health Organisation and UK Department of Health are no longer advising against travel to

any destination because of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) concerns.

But global surveillance for the disease continues.

For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk.

NATURAL OCCURENCES  
Like a number of other countries in the region, Thailand was hit by a series of tidal waves on 26th December,

following a major earthquake in the Indian Ocean. The picture is not yet fully clear,

but several hundred people are confirmed to have been killed, and several thousands injured in resorts and

towns along Thailand's west coast, in particular Phuket, Krabi and Pangna. A number of islands have also been hit.

If you are intending to visit any of the areas of Thailand affected, you should check carefully with your

travel and/or accommodation agents to make sure that it is safe and tenable to proceed.

You should be aware that there is excessive damage to buildings and other infrastructure in the

areas concerned and the emergency services are fully stretched.

The FCO emergency telephone number is 0207 008 0000. British nationals in Thailand caught up in

the tragedy should also contact the British Embassy in Bangkok which is open on an emergency 24 hour basis.

The telephone number in Thailand is 02 305 8333. A team of officers from the British Embassy and

the Honorary Consul have opened an emergency office in Phuket which will aim to provide immediate

practical advice for British nationals in Phuket and other adjoining areas. Its numbers are

076 264 473/4/5 and 076 264 484.   In Thailand the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have set up an

emergency hotline for foreign nationals affected by the tidal waves.  The numbers are

General:
September and October are the monsoon season in much of Thailand. Widespread flooding in the north,

north eastern and central regions is routine. You should check local reports when travelling in these areas.
GENERAL

It is not possible to change Scottish or Northern Irish bank notes.
Elephants
Elephant riding can be dangerous, and has been the cause of several serious accidents and at least one

recent death of a British citizen.
Registration
If you are a British national and plan to stay for an extended period in Thailand you are strongly advised to

register with the British Embassy in Bangkok upon arrival.

OTHER
Thailand Country Profile

CONTACT DETAILS