Thailand - The Magic Lives On

Hedged in the mountains of Southeast Asia, is the country of Thailand, which, by current estimates boasts the 50th largest country in the world in terms of land mass (over 500,000sq km). In terms of population this Southeast Asia hub is home to over 63 million souls and is ideally multi-ethnic.

While being multi-ethnic, over three-fourths of the populace is ethnic Malay, another 14% is Chinese and the rest of the pie is sub-divided into smaller groups such as the Mons, the Khmers and other minor tribes residing in the mountainous under-grove. Thailand is also a melting pot of different dialects although Thai is the predominant one.

In the early 80s, Thailand embarked on an ambitious modernization program and its economy experienced an upswing which created thousands of jobs and a vibrant middle class. All this happened without Thailand losing its cultural edge.

The result-thousands of tourists began to stream in from Far Asia, Europe, the United States and the Middle East. This has transformed Thailand from a backwater country to a viable destination where businessmen rub shoulders with powerful politicians and regular people in its sun-scotched beaches and exotic cities.

There are a few factors that have worked in Thailand's favor, causing it to morph into a popular tourist attraction. One is the rich Thai culture. Because of its interaction and close proximity to other Southeast Asia entities such as India, Laos and Cambodia, Thailand has a wealth of language, food and social stratas that have been under-girded by its multiplicity of religions the predominant one being Buddhism.

The country's official language is Thai. About 95% of the population are Buddhist. Buddism as a religious discipline has been exported to almost every country on the globe and its adherents continue to travel to Thailand just to be close to its origins.

Thailand has a vibrant entertainment and leisure industry that continues to draw thousands each year. During the Vietnam War, American soldiers would find their way to Bangkok, Thailand's largest and most famous city. Here they would frolic and melt away in the nightlife.

The heartbeat of Thailand is Bangkok. Bangkok is a large metropolis with an enviable commercial base, a rich heritage. Combining a cultural skyline full of Buddhist temples with glass and steel structures that would rival any Western city, Bangkok has become a magnet for visitors coming from nearby countries and Westerners seeking a vacation getaway and entertainment. Bangkok's nightlife is also unequaled and has been featured in many films.

The attraction that Thailand has also come with its price; the country has been cited as a major drug and sex trade transit area. This has caused the Thai government to ramp up laws that are aimed at severely curtailing drug smuggling through its borders and human trafficking.

The government has also boosted its law enforcement capabilities to fight organized crime and reduce crimes on tourists. After October 2002 terrorist attacks on the Island of Bali, which resembles Thailand in tourism and culture, the government of Thailand has left no stone unturned in ensuring that tourists are safe and that criminal and terror elements are severely disrupted.

By Jimmy Jamm