Thailand Overview
 Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand offers much more than just a tropical holiday destination. Regarded as one of the most welcoming counties in the world, Thailand is deservingly nick-named "the land of smiles".
Thailand features several advantages of a fully developed country and sports a harmony rarely seen together between the old and the new. Climb on board and let us take you on the journey that is Thailand.
 This colourful and exotic kingdom has become the preferred destination in Asia. Thailand has competitive advantages in every respect: great accommodations, good restaurants, a great road-system, perfect medical facilities, nice beaches, a night-life never seen anywhere else, international schools, world-class golf courses, amazing shopping complexes and entertainment areas.
Well-established international hospitals under foreign management, Thailand has more than 30 qualified international hospitals equipped with foreign-speaking staff and mostly foreign management. These are located not only in Bangkok, but also in major tourist cities such as Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Rayong and Hua Hin, among others.
The New Bangkok International Airport opened September 2006 is expected to have an initial capacity of 45 million passengers in Phase I, later increasing to 100 million passengers in Phase II.
 Thailand
has become increasingly popular to private individuals in search of a change
of lifestyle, whereby they are able to enjoy year-round sunshine, high quality
and affordable day to day living standards. All this, combined with a safe
and completely absorbing culture make Thailand an extremely desirable investment
opportunity. Its cost of living is considered to be 1/3 that of major European countries. Mercer HR Consulting's &Cost of Living" survey ranks Bangkok as the 125th most expensive
city in the world (of a total of 144 cities). Back to top
Thailand celebrated, in 2006, the 60th anniversary of the coronation of His
Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the world's longest reigning king. Since
he was officially crowned in 1946 His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej has
assumed the role of constitutional monarch and has worked tirelessly on behalf
of his people, gaining a measure of personal devotion that is probably unique.
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Thailand is by now legendary as the "Land of Smiles", for its hospitality and service-minded people. This has been a focal point for the Tourism Authority of Thailand's marketing campaigns.
Legislation in Thailand is also becoming more supportive. A few years ago, the government created Thai Longstay Management, a semi-private company with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as the major shareholder. The mandate of Khun Prasan Wangrattanaprane, Managing Director of Thai Longstay Management, is to facilitate the stay of foreigners who wish to spend three months or longer in Thailand. Back to top Large communities of foreigners are scattered around Thailand's beaches and highland cities, due in part to the warm tropical weather, with temperatures of around 25 - 35 degrees Celsius for most of the year.
Pristine and sandy beaches are not the only attractions in Thailand. If you venture out into the peninsula, you will discover its true culture smack in the centre of the country. The magnificent Khmer Temples in the north, for example, where you can admire unspoiled traditional life. Thailand is simply amazing. Back to top
In Thailand, foreign retirees can afford a completely new lifestyle, complete with inviting tropical climate and a full-range of facilities and services for a fraction of the cost in more developed countries.
According to James Batt, Managing Director of Laguna Pcl, "service minded people, low cost of living, tropical lifestyle and good infrastructure" are the main reasons to purchase property and retire in Thailand. Back to top
 Thailand
is still the leading tourism destination among the ASEAN members. , Thailand
attracted international tourists with higher growth from Indochina
and the Middle East. In 2004 Thailand registered 12 million international
tourists.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is counting on million tourists
traveling to Thai shores in . TAT has launched
a new international campaign "Thailand Happiness on Earth" until 2008 with the
ambition to receive 20 million international tourists. The constant tourism growth
is a factor of security and offers real opportunities to make capital gain in
real estate.
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 Thailand has fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis but Thailand was one of East Asia's economic best performers in 2002-05. Boosted by increased consumption and strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. In addition Thailand is pursuing preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. Back to top
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