Thailand

Brief Fact File

Capital	Bangkok
Currency	Baht (THB)
Language(s)	Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Local time	GMT + 07:00
Telephone code	66
Major cities	Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Phuket

Economy
Thailand has a well developed infrastructure and a free-enterprise economy. It gladly welcomes foreign investment. It has fully recovered from the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-98 and was one of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Bangkok has pursued for preferential trade agreements with many countries to boost exports and maintain high growth. In the year 2004 it began negotiations with the US for Free Trade Agreement. The country's export accounts for over half the GDP. The largest suppliers to Thailand are Japan, the United States and China.

Major Exports:

• Textiles And Footwear
  
• Fishery Products
  
• Rice
  
• Rubber
  
• Jewelry
  
• Automobiles
  
• Computers And Electrical Appliances
  
• Agricultural products
  
• Mining products
  
• Forestry products

Major Imports:

• Capital Goods
  
• Intermediate Goods And Raw Materials
  
• Consumer Goods
  
• Fuels and lubricants
  
• Machinery and parts
  
• Chemicals
  
• Base metals
  
• Vehicles and parts

Business Practices

Business Dress

• Business attire is conservative.
  
• Men should wear dark coloured conservative business suits.
  
• Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses. Women need not wear hosiery.
  
• Since Thai's judge you on clothing and accessories, ensure that the shoes are always well polished.

Communication Guidelines

• They prefer doing business with people they respect.
  
• Relationships develop slowly and do not flourish after single meeting; it may take several meetings.
  
• Always be respectful and courteous when dealing with others as this leads to the harmonious relationships necessary within business.
  
• Thai communication is formal and non-verbal communication and is often more important than verbal communication.
  
• Rank is always respected. The eldest person in the group is revered.
  
• It is difficult for most of them to say no, so you must be cognizant of their non-verbal communication.
  

Business Hour
8.30 am to 4.30 pm - Offices (lunch between 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm)
8.30 am to 3.30 pm - Banks (Monday to Friday)
8.00 am to 5.00/7.00 pm - Shops (Monday to Friday. Many larger stores also open on Saturdays)

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
Ministry of Commerce
Government of Thailand
Sanamchai Rd., Pranakorn
Bangkok 10200
Tel.: +(66)-(2)-5078000
Fax: +(66)-(2)-5077717
E-mail: webmaster@mocnet.moc.go.th
Website: http://www.moc.go.th

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
46, Soi 23 (Prasarn Mitr) Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok 10110
Tel: +(66)-(2)-2580300-5
Fax: +(66)-(2)-2584627
E-mail: indiaemb@mozart.inet.co.th

Consulate General of India, Chiang Mai
344, Charoenrat Road
Chiang Mai, 50000
Tel: +(66)-(53)-243066
Fax: +(66)-(53)-247879
E-mail: bharat@indcon-chiangmai.com
Website: http://www.indcon-chiangmai.com
Working Hours:
9:00 am to 12:00 noon (Monday to Friday)

Visiting this Country

Business Visa Rules for Thailand
Individuals may enter Thailand as a Business Visitor for up to 30 days (90 days for some nationals) provided that the purpose of the visit is to conduct allowable Business Visitor activities.

Allowable Activities as a Business Visitor
The allowable activities of business visitors are typically limited to the following:

• To attend any business meetings or discussions.
  
• To attend any sales calls to potential clients in Thailand.
  
• To attend any seminars or "fact-finding" meetings

Maximum Period of Stay as a Business Visitor

While Consulates and immigration officers can exercise discretion in determining the length of stay for any visitor, the usual validity of most business visas are 30 days.

Basic Requirements to Apply for a Business Visa

The following requirements are for individuals traveling to Thailand as a Business Visitor (30 days) or making application for an Urgent Work Permit. These requirements are subject to change without notice.

• The applicant must have a residence and an employer outside of Thailand and must be traveling to Thailand for a limited and pre-set time period.
  
• The applicant must not receive compensation from sources within Thailand; however, incidental expenses such as accommodation, cost of travel, and meals may be paid by the host.
  
• The applicant must have evidence of adequate funds to defray expenses while on the business visit.
  
• The applicant must have a specific, realistic and pre-set plans for his/her stay in Thailand consistent with their intended entry classification.
  
• The period of intended stay of the applicant must be consistent with the intended purpose of the trip.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Local Name	Detail
New Year's Day	January 1	Wan Khun Pee Mai
Magha Puja	February	Mahka Bucha	Based on Thai lunar calendar, Theravada Buddhist holiday
Chakri Memorial Day	April 6		Commemorates King Rama I, founder of the Chakri dynasty
Thai New Year	April 13-April 15	Songkran
Vesak	May	Visakha Bucha	Based on Thai lunar calendar, Theravada Buddhist holiday
Royal Ploughing Ceremony	May		Government only
Labour Day	May 1		Bank holiday only
Coronation Day	May 5		Commemorates coronation of the current king Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950
Asalha Puja	July	Asanha Puja	Based on Thai lunar calendar, government only, Theravada Buddhist holiday
Vassa	July	Khao Phansa	Based on Thai lunar calendar, Theravada Buddhist holiday
Mid Year Day	July 1		Bank holiday only
Mother's Day	August 12		Commemorates birthday of the current queen
Chulalongkorn Day	October 23	Wan Piyamaharat	Commemorates King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the anniversary of his death
Father's Day	December 5		Commemorates birthday of the current king Bhumibol Adulyadej
Constitution Day	December 10		Commemorates the change to constitutional monarchy in 1932
New Year's Eve	December 31

Travel Tips

• Tipping is not a customary in Thailand except in the bigger tourist hotels of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiangmai. Where service charge is not included in restaurants, a 10-15% tip is appreciated.
  
• The electric current is 220 V (AC), 50 cycles. Good hotels make available of 110 Volt transformers.
  
• The departure tax is 500B.
  
• There are several types of taxis available in Thailand, metered and non-metered. Non-metered taxi fares are negotiable before the ride.
  
• Shops rarely give refund, but will gladly exchange faulty goods.
  
• Every tourism destination and provincial capitals have good hospitals and clinics. At time of emergencies, ambulances can also be summoned from any private hospital.
  
• Tourist information is available at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). It has head office in Bangkok and local offices in 22 cities.
  
• Thai Tourist Police provide safety to tourists.