Visitor Information:

Thailand:
Head Office
Tourisim Authority of Thailand
Le Concorde Bldg.
202 Ratchadapisek Rd.
Huay Kwang, Bangkok 10310, Thailand
Tel: (02) 694-1222
Fax: (02) 694-1220-1
Email: center@tat.or.th

United States of America:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
611 North Larchmont Boulevard, 1/F
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Tel: (1 323) 461-9814
Fax: (1 323) 461-9834
Email: tatla@ix.netcom.com

Tourism Authority of Thailand
304 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10010
Tel: (1 212) 219-7447
Fax: (1 212) 219-4697
Email: tatny@aol.com

Entry Requirements/Customs:

Visitors to Thailand who hold valid passports or travelling documents issued by any country included in an officially issued list of eligible countries are permitted one-month visa-free visits. If planning a longer stay, a Tourist Visa valid for 60 days must be obtained from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. Visa extensions can be applied for at the Immigration Department in Bangkok.

Customs:

Prohibited items: All kinds of narcotics (hemp, opium,cocaine, morphine, heroin), obscene literature, pictures or articles.

Firearms: Importation of firearms and ammunition can be done only after a permit has been obtained from the Police Department of the Local Registration Office.

Personal effects : A reasonable amount of clothing for personal use, toilet articles, and professional instruments may be brought in free of duty.

Cameras : One still-camera or one movie camera can be brought in without duty. Five rolls of still-camera film or three rolls of 8 or 16 mm movie-camera film may be brought in free of duty.

Tobacco, alcoholic beverages : Cigarettes,cigars,or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed 250 grams in weight. Cigarettes not exceeding 200 in quantity. One litre each of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty.

Household effects : A reasonable amount of used household effects, accompanied by the owner on change of domicile are also free of duty.

Plants and animals: Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited. Please contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division, Bangkhen, Bangkok, Tel : 579-1581, 579-3576. permission of entry for animals coming in by air can be obtained at the airport. If entering by sea, the application must be made at the Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok, Tel: 251-5136, 252-6944. Vaccination certificates are required.

Currency:

There are 100 satangs in 1 baht. (B=baht) Notes are issued in denominations of B1000 (gray), B500 (purple), B100 (red), B50 (blue), B20 (green), and B10 (brown). There are 10, 5 and 1 baht coin, and 50 and 25 satang. Most foreign currencies and traveller cheques are easily changed at banks, hotels or moneychangers. All major credit cards are widely accepted throughout the kingdom.

General banking hours are Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Electricity:

The electric system is 220 Volt AC (50 cycles). There are many plugs and sockets in use. Travelers with shavers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug-adapter kit.

Language: Thai (spoken by 85% of population). Thai is a tonal language belonging to the group of Ka-Tai languages, the five tones are monotone, low, falling, high, and rising. This can be a rather complicated language for the visitor; however, English is quite widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the major commercial language.

Health:

There are no required vaccinations, unless you are coming from an infected area. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from an infected area. Please check the latest regulations with your local health office.

Time:

GMT + 7 hours.

Climate:

Thailand lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29oC, ranging in Bangkok from 35oC in April to 17oC in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy season (June to October), though downpours rarely last more than a couple of hours.

Light, loose cotton clothing is best. Nylon should be avoided. Sweaters are needed during the cool season evenings or if visiting mountainous areas or national parks. Jackets and ties are required in a few restaurants and nightclubs. Neat clothes are required for entering temples or palaces.