INTRODUCTION to Thailand
Principal diving destinations
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The Mae Hong-Son Valley
photo by Thai Flying Club |
| Overview |
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At the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand is an independent kingdom combining 20th-century sophistication with an ancient culture that has evolved over the past 700 years.
Covering just over 500,000 sq km it is bordered by Malaysia to the south, Myanmar to the west, Laos to the north and Kampuchea to the east. It is unique amongst Southeast Asian nations in that it has never been occupied by a foreign colonial power. Largely as a result, it has maintained a cohesive sense of national identity and traditional culture.
| Tourism |
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With over five million annual visitors, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. It has an enormous amount to offer, from ancient temples to rainforests and remote islands with palm-fringed beaches – and, of course, coral reefs teeming with life for divers and snorkellers.
Tourism is an important part of the kingdom’s service economy. The country’s rapid development in recent years has brought with it all the usual problems, such as infrastructure bottlenecks, environmental degradation and increased social pressures. Despite a spectacular economic growth, the majority of the population still earns its living from small-scale farming. Rice is the country’s main crop and Thailand is the world’s biggest exporter of rice.
| Bangkok and the regions of Thailand |
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The population of Thailand is around 60 million, with approximately 10 million people living in the capital, Bangkok. This massive, vibrant, traffic-bound city dominates the country’s central region and functions as the cultural, religious, economic and political centre of the country.
Thailand is divided into four distinct regions: the mountainous north, the vast northeast plateau, the central plains, and the narrow Isthmus of Kra to the south, stretching down to the border with Malaysia.
Once covered in teakwood forests, the mountainous northern region appeals to the adventurous traveller, with one of the main attractions being the prospect of trekking through remote – and not so remote – villages inhabited by a diversity of tribal peoples. The main focal point for the region is the growing centre of Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ‘second’ city.
| Isan |
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Separated from Laos by the Mekong River, the northeast plateau is dominated by agriculture (rice, fruit and vegetables) and is one of the poorest regions in the country.
Known as Isan, this region has a distinct culture and dialect (reflecting its proximity to Laos), and although it is the least developed area in Thailand, this part of the country is well worth visiting, with ancient stone temples dating back almost 10 centuries. Isan is growing in importance as the gateway to Laos.
| Central Plains |
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The central plains are another important rice-growing area and, although most visitors tend to pass them by on their way further north, there are ancient cities, such as Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, which repay exploration.
| The Andaman Sea |
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It is the islands and beaches of southern Thailand that hold the greatest appeal for tourists and, whether you’re looking for solitude or sophisticated nightlife, there is plenty of choice.
The Andaman coastline, to the west of the Kra Isthmus, boasts fabulous scenery and dazzling beaches. The largest and best-known of the island destinations here is Phuket, which has been attracting tourists for a number of years and is now in full swing, high-rise hotels appear inexorably above the palm trees.
Further south, the island destination of Koh Phi Phi and the beaches around Krabi on the mainland are slowly but surely building a foothold on the tourist map and, although not as established as Phuket, they are geared up to welcome all visitors – from independent travellers to families – as is the more remote and charming island of Koh Lanta further south.
| The Gulf of Thailand |
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In the Gulf of Thailand, on the other side of the Kra Isthmus, the most established destination is the island of Koh Samui; the other islands within the Samui Archipelago, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, are also popular tourist destinations.
To the east of Bangkok, the beach resort of Pattaya bears little resemblance to the real Thailand and has a notorious reputation, but further east still there are several virtually untouched islands awaiting the adventurous traveller – Koh Chang, for instance, which is the country’s second largest island offers miles of beaches and unexplored forest.
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