How Did Thailand Become So Popular with Tourists?
Did you know that Thailand is called the Land of Smiles by those who visit? But did you know that Thailand is made up of 1,430 islands, is a Buddist Nation, and its original name was Siam?
Each year Mastercard announces the most popular travel destinations, this year, again, Thailand made the list and even took the #1 spot. So why has Thailand become so popular over the last 5 years?
There are many reasons for Thailand's increase in tourism. Read on to learn about the unique nature of this island nation and why it is the place to visit.
Why Is Thailand So Popular
The country has invested significantly in its infrastructure making communication and access to locations easier. These two factors alone improve tourism. But the real reason/reasons Thailand is so popular is the people, the culture, and the natural environment.
Below are some of the many reasons to visit Thailand.
Thailands Rich History and Culture
Thailand has a rich history, dating back to the Paleolithic period, some 20,000 years ago. Today Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, Maha Vajiralongkorn, the 10th Thai monarch of the Chakri dynasty, was proclaimed king in December 2016.
It is also a Buddist nation (95% of its population is Buddist), with 40,000 Buddist Temples. When you visit take time to understand and immerse yourself in this culture.
Thai Ancient Temples
Thai temples were constructed based on the style at the time. Temples in Thailand were completed by many different dynasties over many years, so be prepared to experience the rich and diverse architecture of Thai Temples.
One of the most well known is Bangkok’s iconic Grand Palace. In Chiang Mai, one ought to visit the Temple of Emerald Buddha and Wat Chedi Luang Varaihara.
Thai Festivals
Festivals are quite common in Thailand. One of the biggest and most important is the Thailand Lantern Festival. It is held over the full moon in November each year. This year both the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals are held at the same time. During these festivals, lotus-shaped baskets are placed in the rivers, monks meditate, and lanterns float in the sky.
Besides the Latern Lantern Festival, there is the Elephant Festival that also takes place in November. This festival celebrates the Mahouts and the Elephants that have help to build the Thai country.
Because Thailand is a Buddist country, the Thai New Year is also a Buddist holiday celebrating renewal. It is held in April and includes a nationwide water fight.
Thai Food of Course
Thai food is delicious and diverse, and inexpensive. The cuisine varies by location. Don't be afraid to sample hot and sour dishes whipped up in seconds by street vendors, adding fresh lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, and galangal.You should seek out and try these dishes:
Tom Yum Goong, a bright red, spicy shrimp soup prepared using lemongrass
Pad Thai, which consists of rice noodles, stir-fried with eggs, tofu, tamarind pulp, fish sauce, and seafood
Som Tam, a salad originating in Laos, made by combining unripe papaya, palm sugar, hot chili sauce, savory fish sauce, and sour lime
Food prices like accommodation prices are reasonable in Thailand.
Thai Cost of Accommodation
There is luxury accommodation in Thailand that costs a fraction of the price spent on any standard commercial hotel in Europe or the US. Only in Thailand does high-quality accommodation range from US$ 60 for a 3-star hotel to about US$ 300 for a posh, 5-star hotel. Even better: Stays at many luxury hotels usually feature traditional performances during dinner, world-class cuisine, pampering at the spa, and Thai cooking classes.
So if you think that a trip to Thailand is out of your reach, think again. Some of the best hotels and restaurants are really quite inexpensive, and so is a lot of entertainment.
Thai Climate
Thailand is a year-round destination. That alone makes it a desirable destination for most. Thailand is the busiest in the hot season. The capital city of Bangkok and the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are most popular during the monsoon season.
Thai Markets
Many markets in Thailand float, like the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The crowd, however, is part of what makes it so fun. How many boats can you jam in a canal?
The Thai Culture and Smiles
Thailand is famous for their smiles and for Thai wai. Thailand is one of the nicest, politest, and well-mannered places to visit in Asia. hy so many people love visiting Thailand.
One motto in Thailand is mai pen rai, which means ‘never mind’. Thai people’s carefree attitude is one that many Westerners envy. This may be a result of their Buddist culture or the fact that they live in a sort of Nirvana, either way, they take stress and frustration with a grain of salt.
This is why so many visitors return to Thailand, the people. People tend to go home and miss the welcoming and friendly nature of the Thai people.Everyplace you travel there is the potential to meet nefarious individuals, so don't let your guard down in Thailand but in general, you will meet many nice and wonderful people.
Several other unique pieces of the Thai culture is their respect for elders and their devotion to Buddhism. All male Thais are encouraged to become a monk at some point in their lives.
Sports are also very common in Thailand. Most Thais love soccer, which suits many Europeans.
Another very popular sport in Thailand is Muay Thai (Thai boxing). There is no shortage of Thai boxing gyms or stadiums in Thailand.
Getting to and Traveling Around Thailand
While not all the travel systems in Thail are organized, some should be classified as an organized mess, you can get to most places in Thailand pretty easily.
If you plan ahead and have a flexible travel schedule you can get to many of the corners of the country for as little as $20.
You can also travel by train, taxi, limo, and bus to get where you want to go. Hiring a private car is the easiest and most expensive. Traveling by bus is the most chaotic but the best way to see the true nature of Thailand.
Because of its island nature, it is pretty easy to grab a boat or ferry to get to most places. In Bangkok, you can travel up the Chao Phraya River or klongs (canals) via river taxi.
When traveling locally, explore using tuk-tuks, songthaews, and motorbike taxis as your travel mode. High-Speed Communication.
Thailand has invested significantly in its communication infrastructure. You can pick up a Thai Tourist SIM card for about $20 U.S. 4G signals and high-speed internet exist even in the most remote area, including remote islands.
Along with modern communication networks, Thailand has a modern banking network as well as robust shopping centers.
Location, Location, Location
For many, they think of Thailand's 1,500 miles of beaches. But the Thai interior is known for amazing places to visit. Thailands natural forest covers approximately 25% of the nation's land area.
Beaches
There are both crowded beaches, like Bang Saen in Chonburi and Jomtien Beach in Pattaya and secluded ones like Freedom Beach in Phuket and Lamai in Koh Samui. the nice thing, no matter where you are in Thailand you are not that far from the beach.
Wildlife in Thailand
Thailand has national parks (147) and nature reserves where you can experience the diverse wildlife of the area. You can see elephants, tigers, leopards, Malaysian sun bears, gibbons, monkeys, and macaques to name just a few. The country currently has 147 national parks.
There has been some criticism of Thailand's use of its natural resources and animal life. Be a responsible eco-traveler if you are visiting any of these locations. Avoid tourist destinations that are mistreating or abusing animals.
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs.
Water Sports and Scuba Diving
With easy access to the water, Thailand certifies the most scuba divers, annually, next to Australia. There are many places to dive to see sharks, especially whale sharks and leopard sharks.
Now that you know a little more about Thailand you can easily understand why it is so popular. From the ease of travel to inexpensive accommodations, Thailand has something for every traveler. Book your trip and get ready to enjoy all Thailand has to offer.
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Now that you understand all the wonderful things Thailand has to offer, and have a better understanding of why it is so popular, follow our blog and let's see where the world takes us.
