“Get the facts, or the facts will get you. And when you get them, get them right, or they will get you wrong.”
Dr. Thomas Fuller
• Bangkok and it’s neighbouring provinces of Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Phanom and Nonthaburi have the highest daily minimum wage in Thailand at Bt195 while Nan and Phayao provinces in the north have the lowest at Bt144.
(Labour Ministry)
• In 2007 there were 327 accidents killing 45 people and injuring 143 at Thailand’s railway crossings.
(State Railway of Thailand)
• Thailand’s first woman member of parliament was elected in 1949.
• Approximately 30% of Thailand’s population are carriers of Thalassaemia disease.
(Bangkok Post, April 8 2008)
• Thailand is the third most popular international travel destination for Indian tourists behind Singapore and the United States. 536,356 Indians visited Thailand in 2007.
(Tourism Authority of Thailand)
• Approximately 1 million Chinese visited Thailand in 2007, a decrease of 2.9% from 2006.
(Tourism Authority of Thailand)
• There are approximately 3.6 million rice farming families in Thailand totally around 20 million people.
(Bangkok Post, April 23 2008)
• There are approximately 30,000 registered internet cafes in Thailand using 450,000 computers.
(Mahidol University Institute for Child and Family Development)
• More than 13,000 prisoners of war and 200,000 Asian labourers died during the construction of the “Death Railway” linking Thanbyuzayat in Burma with Ban Pong in Thailand.
(Bangkok Post, April 25 2008)
• Since 2003 there have been 1,006 people reported missing in Thailand, 589 being children and teenagers. 80 children have been reported missing in the first three months of 2008.
(Missing Persons Centre)
• Bhumibol dam in Tak province is Thailand’s largest dam. The current level is 2.89 billion cubic metres.
(Bangkok Post, April 25 2008)
• In 2007 there was an estimated16 million computers users in Thailand (26.8% of the population) up from 15.39 million in 2006.
(Thailand National Statistics Office)
• In 2007 there was an estimated 9 million internet users up from 8 million in 2006.
(Thailand National Statistics Office)
• Thailand's household indebtedness rose to an average Bt116,681 (US$3,700) per family last year from Bt68,405 (US$2166) in 2000.
(Thailand National Statistics Office)
• 757,734 Scandinavians visited Thailand in 2007 up from 645,361 in 2006 of which 374,000 were from Sweden.
(Tourism Authority of Thailand)
• 45% of all Swedish investment in Thailand is in Rayong.
(Colliers International Thailand)
• Kan-Yao durian is the most expensive fruit in Thailand and can retail for up to Bt7,000 per kilogramme.
• Approximately 1.35 million tonnes of rice seeds and 2.35 million tonnes of fertilizers will be required in Thailand for rice production in 2008.
(Agricultural Economics Office)
• Despite being the world’s leading producer of rice Thailand ranks at the bottom of the top 10 world rice producers in terms of rice productivity producing 430kg per rai while China produces 1,000kg per rai, Vietnam 778kg, India 658kg, Brazil 648 and Bangladesh 619kg per rai.
(United States Department of Agriculture)
• Udon Thani is Thailand’s second largest city in terms of population but is still 30 times smaller than the Greater Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
(Encyclopedia Britannica)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thailand Facts #23 (265 facts and statistics to date)
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
Aldous Huxley
• Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of shrimp.
• Although Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice it is only the world’s sixth largest producer behind China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
(Rice Exporters Association)
• Thailand is the 22nd highest carbon emitter in the world.
(United Nations Development Programme)
• It is estimated that cross-national marriages have contributed Bt 8.6 billion to the economy of Northeastern Thailand.
(Khon Kaen University research report)
• In 1991, there were 143,000 HIV infections in Thailand. In 2007 the figure was 14,000.
(Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister)
• Bangkok's office space is the third cheapest in Asia with only Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur offering lower office rentals.
(CB Richard Ellis)
• In 1989 3.7% of blood donated to the Thai Red Cross Society was contaminated with HIV/Aids.
(The Nation, March 31 2008)
• Thailand’s health care system has an annual budget of around Bt 2,300 per person.
(Bangkok Post, April 2 2008)
• Thailand is the world’s largest rubber producer with a total output in 2007 of 3,063,000 tonnes.
(IRSG)
• In the first quarter of 2008, monthly rent for prime retail space in central Bangkok was Bt 2,458.19 per square metre compared with Bt 34,408.03 for the equivalent in New York.
(Knight Frank)
• There are over 3,000 7-Eleven stores, 492 Tesco Lotus, 59 Big C, 45 Makro and 29 Carrefour outlets in Thailand.
(Business Development Department)
• Thailand has an estimated 1.87 million businesses of which 99% are SME’s.
(The Nation, April 7 2008)
• Currently, there are about 40,000 Thai workers in South Korea.
(TNA, April 8 2008)
• Last year, there were 4,274 road accidents countrywide, killing 361 and injuring 4,805 people during the long holiday.
(Bangkok Post, April 13 2008)
• The sale of alcoholic beverages during the ongoing Songkran festival, Thailand's traditional New Year, is expected to rise to an estimated Bt3.1 billion.
(TNA, April 13 2008)
• The proportion of imported brand PC’s and to locally-branded PC’s was 40 to 60 in 2007 compared with 20 to 80 in 2005.
(Bangkok Post, April 9 2008)
• The total area in Thailand under maize production is more than 7.7 million rai with a total production is around 4.47 million tonnes. The country imported 150,356 tonnes of maize worth Bt495.07 million in 2007. Since early this year, import volumes reached 50,741 tonnes worth Bt164.13.
(The Nation, April 15 2008)
• There are at least 1.24 million single parent families in Thailand out of 17.8 million households.
(Provincial Administration Department)
• Thailand has only 104.7 million rai of fertile forest left out of a total of 320.7 million rai of forest land.
(Natural Resources and Environment Ministry)
• There were 229 deaths and 3,315 injuries during the 2008 Songkran period from April 11 to April 16.
(Road Safety Centre)
Aldous Huxley
• Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of shrimp.
• Although Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rice it is only the world’s sixth largest producer behind China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
(Rice Exporters Association)
• Thailand is the 22nd highest carbon emitter in the world.
(United Nations Development Programme)
• It is estimated that cross-national marriages have contributed Bt 8.6 billion to the economy of Northeastern Thailand.
(Khon Kaen University research report)
• In 1991, there were 143,000 HIV infections in Thailand. In 2007 the figure was 14,000.
(Anand Panyarachun, former Prime Minister)
• Bangkok's office space is the third cheapest in Asia with only Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur offering lower office rentals.
(CB Richard Ellis)
• In 1989 3.7% of blood donated to the Thai Red Cross Society was contaminated with HIV/Aids.
(The Nation, March 31 2008)
• Thailand’s health care system has an annual budget of around Bt 2,300 per person.
(Bangkok Post, April 2 2008)
• Thailand is the world’s largest rubber producer with a total output in 2007 of 3,063,000 tonnes.
(IRSG)
• In the first quarter of 2008, monthly rent for prime retail space in central Bangkok was Bt 2,458.19 per square metre compared with Bt 34,408.03 for the equivalent in New York.
(Knight Frank)
• There are over 3,000 7-Eleven stores, 492 Tesco Lotus, 59 Big C, 45 Makro and 29 Carrefour outlets in Thailand.
(Business Development Department)
• Thailand has an estimated 1.87 million businesses of which 99% are SME’s.
(The Nation, April 7 2008)
• Currently, there are about 40,000 Thai workers in South Korea.
(TNA, April 8 2008)
• Last year, there were 4,274 road accidents countrywide, killing 361 and injuring 4,805 people during the long holiday.
(Bangkok Post, April 13 2008)
• The sale of alcoholic beverages during the ongoing Songkran festival, Thailand's traditional New Year, is expected to rise to an estimated Bt3.1 billion.
(TNA, April 13 2008)
• The proportion of imported brand PC’s and to locally-branded PC’s was 40 to 60 in 2007 compared with 20 to 80 in 2005.
(Bangkok Post, April 9 2008)
• The total area in Thailand under maize production is more than 7.7 million rai with a total production is around 4.47 million tonnes. The country imported 150,356 tonnes of maize worth Bt495.07 million in 2007. Since early this year, import volumes reached 50,741 tonnes worth Bt164.13.
(The Nation, April 15 2008)
• There are at least 1.24 million single parent families in Thailand out of 17.8 million households.
(Provincial Administration Department)
• Thailand has only 104.7 million rai of fertile forest left out of a total of 320.7 million rai of forest land.
(Natural Resources and Environment Ministry)
• There were 229 deaths and 3,315 injuries during the 2008 Songkran period from April 11 to April 16.
(Road Safety Centre)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Thailand Facts #22 (245 facts and statistics to date)
“We’d forgive most things if we knew the facts.”
The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene
• The King of Thailand will celebrate his 80th birthday this year.
• Exports now account for 60% of Thailand’s GDP, compared with 29% in 1990.
• The number of patients with heart disease has doubled from 318 to 682 per 100,000 of population and patients with diabetes has more than doubled from 278 to 587 per 100,000, while cancer patients has risen from 80 to 124 per 100,000 population.
(Public Health Ministry)
• In 2007, 42 per cent of Thais aged over 15 years old or about 17 million people were overweight.
(Public Health Ministry)
• About one in five Thai men (20 per cent) and three in five Thai women (60 per cent) are overweight.
(Public Health Ministry)
• In 2006 the attendance rate for Thai middle-school students was 89% compared to the world average of 79%. Thai high school students had an attendance rate of 65% compared to the world average of 51%.
(Unesco Institute for Statistics)
• 74,000 houses were completed and registered in Thailand in 2007 compared with 170,000 in 1996.
(Real Estate Information Centre)
• Sales in the local motorcycle market rose in February for the first time in 12 months with total registrations rising 8% year-on-year to 147,104 units.
(AP Honda Co)
• In 2008, an estimated 85,760 new conscripts will be recruited into the Thai armed forces.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Swedish tourists form the third largest group of visitors to Phuket.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Thailand uses nearly 5.2 billion plastic bags per year making the country the ninth largest user in the world.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Last year, 65,000 Americans went to Bumrungrad Hospital for in-patient or outpatient treatment, up from just 10,000 in 2001.
(Business Week)
• Thailand has an annual rice production of about 19 million tonnes, 10 million tonnes of which are for local consumption and the rest for export.
(Rice Exporters Association)
• Pick-up and passenger vehicle production in Thailand is expected to exceed 1.4 million units this year.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
• Thailand’s auto industry employs 200,000 workers.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
• Approximately 500,000 Thais have been infected with HIV, while an average of two people contracting HIV every hour.
(AIDS-prevention advocate, Meechai Viravaidya)
• Thailand produces around 900,000 one-ton trucks per year – about three quarters of global output.
(Bangkok Post, March 26 2008)
• Thailand’s richest person is Chaleo Yoovidhya (Red Bull) with Bt 126 million.
(Forbes)
• In 2007 117,395 rai of land in Thailand was damaged due to fire.
(National Park Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department)
• Approximately 90,000 Thai people are infected with Tuberculosis per year and of this 5,000 to 7,000 people are estimated to die from the disease.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene
• The King of Thailand will celebrate his 80th birthday this year.
• Exports now account for 60% of Thailand’s GDP, compared with 29% in 1990.
• The number of patients with heart disease has doubled from 318 to 682 per 100,000 of population and patients with diabetes has more than doubled from 278 to 587 per 100,000, while cancer patients has risen from 80 to 124 per 100,000 population.
(Public Health Ministry)
• In 2007, 42 per cent of Thais aged over 15 years old or about 17 million people were overweight.
(Public Health Ministry)
• About one in five Thai men (20 per cent) and three in five Thai women (60 per cent) are overweight.
(Public Health Ministry)
• In 2006 the attendance rate for Thai middle-school students was 89% compared to the world average of 79%. Thai high school students had an attendance rate of 65% compared to the world average of 51%.
(Unesco Institute for Statistics)
• 74,000 houses were completed and registered in Thailand in 2007 compared with 170,000 in 1996.
(Real Estate Information Centre)
• Sales in the local motorcycle market rose in February for the first time in 12 months with total registrations rising 8% year-on-year to 147,104 units.
(AP Honda Co)
• In 2008, an estimated 85,760 new conscripts will be recruited into the Thai armed forces.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Swedish tourists form the third largest group of visitors to Phuket.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Thailand uses nearly 5.2 billion plastic bags per year making the country the ninth largest user in the world.
(Bangkok Post, March 19 2008)
• Last year, 65,000 Americans went to Bumrungrad Hospital for in-patient or outpatient treatment, up from just 10,000 in 2001.
(Business Week)
• Thailand has an annual rice production of about 19 million tonnes, 10 million tonnes of which are for local consumption and the rest for export.
(Rice Exporters Association)
• Pick-up and passenger vehicle production in Thailand is expected to exceed 1.4 million units this year.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
• Thailand’s auto industry employs 200,000 workers.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
• Approximately 500,000 Thais have been infected with HIV, while an average of two people contracting HIV every hour.
(AIDS-prevention advocate, Meechai Viravaidya)
• Thailand produces around 900,000 one-ton trucks per year – about three quarters of global output.
(Bangkok Post, March 26 2008)
• Thailand’s richest person is Chaleo Yoovidhya (Red Bull) with Bt 126 million.
(Forbes)
• In 2007 117,395 rai of land in Thailand was damaged due to fire.
(National Park Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department)
• Approximately 90,000 Thai people are infected with Tuberculosis per year and of this 5,000 to 7,000 people are estimated to die from the disease.
(The Nation, March 24 2008)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thailand Facts #21 (225 facts and statistics to date)
“Where facts are few, experts are many”.
Donald R. Gannon
• The Privy Council was established in 1874 at the command of King Rama V to offer advice to the king. Currently there are 16 councillors and former PM Prem Tinsulanonda is the council president.
(The Nation, March 17 2008)
• International reserves have reached an all-time high at $100.5 billion baht as of February 29, 2008.
(Bank of Thailand)
• Thailand's workforce now is seven times that of the retired population, and is projected to drop to 4:1 within 20 years and 2:1 within 40 years,
(Bangkok Post March 28 2008)
• Thaksin Shinawatra is Thailand’s fourth richest person.
(Forbes)
• Global Thai food exports reached $10.75 billion in 2007, a 12.7% increase from 2006.
(Export Promotion Department)
• Thailand’s total current workforce is 36.26 million people.
(National Economic and Social Development Board)
• The number of credit cards in use in Thailand as of the end of January surged by 995,763. Of this, 4,668,072 cards were issued by local commercial banks, up by 258,153 cards from the corresponding period of the previous year, 1,301,989 by foreign bank branches, up by 81,842, and 6,028,768 by non-banking institutions, a rise of 655,768 cards.
(TNA, March 3 2008)
• There is estimated to be over 4,000 community radio stations in Thailand.
(National Telecommunications Commission)
• Thailand has 130 million rai of cultivated land and of this 3 million rai is dedicated to palm trees.
(Bangkok Post, March 12 2008)
• Thailand imported 2.1 million tonnes of soybean meal last year worth 20 billion baht a year. Domestic production was only 823,000 tonnes, an increase from 774,000 tonnes a year earlier.
(Bangkok Post, March 13 2008)
• The number of people involved in the agricultural industry in Thailand has fallen significantly to about 25.2 million nationwide, or about 40% of the population compared to 55-60% ten years ago.
(Office of Agricultural Economics)
• 12,492 people died in road accidents in Thailand in 2007.
(Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation)
• Bangkok, a city of 5.7 million vehicles, has reserved less than 5% of its space for roads.
(Time Magazine)
• More than 2,000 vehicles are added to Bangkok's roads each day.
(Time Magazine)
• There are more than 500 franchisers in Thailand and 50,000 to 60,000 franchisees.
(The Nation, March 17 2008)
Donald R. Gannon
• The Privy Council was established in 1874 at the command of King Rama V to offer advice to the king. Currently there are 16 councillors and former PM Prem Tinsulanonda is the council president.
(The Nation, March 17 2008)
• International reserves have reached an all-time high at $100.5 billion baht as of February 29, 2008.
(Bank of Thailand)
• Thailand's workforce now is seven times that of the retired population, and is projected to drop to 4:1 within 20 years and 2:1 within 40 years,
(Bangkok Post March 28 2008)
• Thaksin Shinawatra is Thailand’s fourth richest person.
(Forbes)
• Global Thai food exports reached $10.75 billion in 2007, a 12.7% increase from 2006.
(Export Promotion Department)
• Thailand’s total current workforce is 36.26 million people.
(National Economic and Social Development Board)
• The number of credit cards in use in Thailand as of the end of January surged by 995,763. Of this, 4,668,072 cards were issued by local commercial banks, up by 258,153 cards from the corresponding period of the previous year, 1,301,989 by foreign bank branches, up by 81,842, and 6,028,768 by non-banking institutions, a rise of 655,768 cards.
(TNA, March 3 2008)
• There is estimated to be over 4,000 community radio stations in Thailand.
(National Telecommunications Commission)
• Thailand has 130 million rai of cultivated land and of this 3 million rai is dedicated to palm trees.
(Bangkok Post, March 12 2008)
• Thailand imported 2.1 million tonnes of soybean meal last year worth 20 billion baht a year. Domestic production was only 823,000 tonnes, an increase from 774,000 tonnes a year earlier.
(Bangkok Post, March 13 2008)
• The number of people involved in the agricultural industry in Thailand has fallen significantly to about 25.2 million nationwide, or about 40% of the population compared to 55-60% ten years ago.
(Office of Agricultural Economics)
• 12,492 people died in road accidents in Thailand in 2007.
(Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation)
• Bangkok, a city of 5.7 million vehicles, has reserved less than 5% of its space for roads.
(Time Magazine)
• More than 2,000 vehicles are added to Bangkok's roads each day.
(Time Magazine)
• There are more than 500 franchisers in Thailand and 50,000 to 60,000 franchisees.
(The Nation, March 17 2008)
Monday, March 3, 2008
Thailand Facts #20 (210 facts and statistics to date)
“Comments are free but facts are sacred".
Charles Prestwich Scott
• In 2007 out of all provinces Kamphaeng Phet residents were the heaviest in debt at Bt49,465.70 per family per year while Phuket residents were the least in debt at Bt484.40 per family.
(Community Development Department)
• Upon completion Ocean Tower 1 at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya will be Thailand’s tallest residential building. It will have 91 stories and will be 327 metres high.
(Bangkok Post, February 13, 2008)
• The current ex-farm price of pork in Thailand is 59-61 baht a kilogramme with the retail price at 115-120 baht. Last year the price was 44-45 baht ex-farm and 115-120 baht retail.
(Bangkok Post, February 18 2008)
• 2,835 people have fallen ill from dengue fever this year with 4 fatalities. In 2007 there were around 60,000 cases with 29 fatalities.
(Health Ministry)
• There are four types of dengue fever in Thailand.
• 4,373 new companies were registered in Thailand in January.
(Commerce Ministry)
• Over 4.1 million Thais are expected to travel overseas this year, an increase of 10.2 per cent from last year with Laos ,Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea being the most popular destinations.
(Kasikorn Research Center)
• Thailand's exports of agricultural products to Australia in 2007 almost doubled from the previous year with a trade surplus of 2.4 billion baht. Major agricultural products exported to Australia were canned tuna, rice, frozen shrimp, pet food and tropical fruits.
(Office of Agricultural Economics)
• Thailand’s Value Added Tax (VAT) is 7%.
• Thailand’s internet penetration rate is around 15%. Malaysia’s is over 60%.
(Vicahi Bencharongkul, Benchachinda Holdings)
• There are 167 local pharmaceutical makers in Thailand. Imported medicines account for 70% of total pharmaceutical sales.
(Thai Pharmaceutical Club)
• Thailand has 300,000 hotel rooms.
(TAT)
• There are at least 20,000 new cases of lung and breast cancer each year in Thailand.
(Public Health Ministry and National Health Security Office)
• Thailand is the 12th largest food exporter in the world
(Bangkok Post, February 27 2008)
• Koh Samui airport handles around 600,000 passengers a year with a maximum of 36 flights per day. Following the upgrade the airport can now handle 16,000 passengers a day.
(Bangkok Post, March 3 2008)
Charles Prestwich Scott
• In 2007 out of all provinces Kamphaeng Phet residents were the heaviest in debt at Bt49,465.70 per family per year while Phuket residents were the least in debt at Bt484.40 per family.
(Community Development Department)
• Upon completion Ocean Tower 1 at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya will be Thailand’s tallest residential building. It will have 91 stories and will be 327 metres high.
(Bangkok Post, February 13, 2008)
• The current ex-farm price of pork in Thailand is 59-61 baht a kilogramme with the retail price at 115-120 baht. Last year the price was 44-45 baht ex-farm and 115-120 baht retail.
(Bangkok Post, February 18 2008)
• 2,835 people have fallen ill from dengue fever this year with 4 fatalities. In 2007 there were around 60,000 cases with 29 fatalities.
(Health Ministry)
• There are four types of dengue fever in Thailand.
• 4,373 new companies were registered in Thailand in January.
(Commerce Ministry)
• Over 4.1 million Thais are expected to travel overseas this year, an increase of 10.2 per cent from last year with Laos ,Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea being the most popular destinations.
(Kasikorn Research Center)
• Thailand's exports of agricultural products to Australia in 2007 almost doubled from the previous year with a trade surplus of 2.4 billion baht. Major agricultural products exported to Australia were canned tuna, rice, frozen shrimp, pet food and tropical fruits.
(Office of Agricultural Economics)
• Thailand’s Value Added Tax (VAT) is 7%.
• Thailand’s internet penetration rate is around 15%. Malaysia’s is over 60%.
(Vicahi Bencharongkul, Benchachinda Holdings)
• There are 167 local pharmaceutical makers in Thailand. Imported medicines account for 70% of total pharmaceutical sales.
(Thai Pharmaceutical Club)
• Thailand has 300,000 hotel rooms.
(TAT)
• There are at least 20,000 new cases of lung and breast cancer each year in Thailand.
(Public Health Ministry and National Health Security Office)
• Thailand is the 12th largest food exporter in the world
(Bangkok Post, February 27 2008)
• Koh Samui airport handles around 600,000 passengers a year with a maximum of 36 flights per day. Following the upgrade the airport can now handle 16,000 passengers a day.
(Bangkok Post, March 3 2008)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thailand Facts #19 (195 facts and statistics to date)
“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyale
• There are around 250,000 Aids patients in Thailand and the Aids infection rate is 17,000 to 18,000 per year compared to 100 cases in Japan.
(Bangkok Post, January 30, 2008)
• Thailand’s doctor to patient ratio is 3.7 doctors to 10,000 people.
(Teera Chakajnarodom, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association)
• Thai consumer spending on luxury goods in 2007 increased by 24.6% to 400 billion baht.
(Commerce Ministry)
• Cultivated cassava covers 7.47 million rai in Thailand producing 26.41 million tonnes per year.
(Bangkok Post, January 30 2008)
• Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked the 40th best airport in the world.
(Airports Council International)
• Thailand's film market measured by ticket sales was worth five billion baht last year, of which 1.7 billion was generated by Thai films, up from 1.1 billion baht the year before.
(Bangkok Post, February 7 2008)
• The TAT recorded 1,291,568 Japanese arrivals last year. The figure was down from 1,293,313 in 2006.
• Thailand has become the third most popular destination for Korean tourists, following China and Japan. It is expected that the number of Korean tourists in Thailand this year would increase by 10 per cent from around 1.26 million in 2007 helping to increase the revenue Thailand earns from tourism by 14.8 per cent to Bt39.6 billion baht(US$ 1.2 billion).
(TNA, February 11,2008)
• Thais eat on average 160 eggs per person per year compared with 350 eggs for Japanese, 270-280 for Singaporeans and 230-240 for Malaysians. Total daily consumption in Thailand is 25-26 million eggs and in 2007 222 million eggs were exported.
(Hen-Egg Farmers, Traders and Exporters Association)
• Pattaya, Thailand’s biggest tourism destination saw approximately 6.85 million tourists in 2007 with 20-25% consisting of Thai weekend tourists and the largest overseas group being Russians.
(Nigel Cornick, Raimon Land)
• Mobile phone service subscribers in Thailand for 2007 totaled around 52 million.
(IDC)
• Electricity generated from Liquefied Natural Gas in Thailand costs 2.5 baht per unit compared with 2 baht per unit for gas sourced from Thailand and Burma while electricity generated from hydropower transmitted as power from Laos costs 1.8-.1.9 baht per unit.
(Bangkok Post, February 6 2008)
• Thai jewellry exports are expected to reach 200 billion baht this year up from 185 billion baht in 2007.
(Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association)
• In January Thailand exported 800,000 tonnes of rice, up 25% compared to the same period in 2007.
(Bangkok Post, February 11 2008)
• During the Lunar New Year 120,000 passengers a day departed, transited and arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport.
(AOT)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyale
• There are around 250,000 Aids patients in Thailand and the Aids infection rate is 17,000 to 18,000 per year compared to 100 cases in Japan.
(Bangkok Post, January 30, 2008)
• Thailand’s doctor to patient ratio is 3.7 doctors to 10,000 people.
(Teera Chakajnarodom, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association)
• Thai consumer spending on luxury goods in 2007 increased by 24.6% to 400 billion baht.
(Commerce Ministry)
• Cultivated cassava covers 7.47 million rai in Thailand producing 26.41 million tonnes per year.
(Bangkok Post, January 30 2008)
• Suvarnabhumi Airport is ranked the 40th best airport in the world.
(Airports Council International)
• Thailand's film market measured by ticket sales was worth five billion baht last year, of which 1.7 billion was generated by Thai films, up from 1.1 billion baht the year before.
(Bangkok Post, February 7 2008)
• The TAT recorded 1,291,568 Japanese arrivals last year. The figure was down from 1,293,313 in 2006.
• Thailand has become the third most popular destination for Korean tourists, following China and Japan. It is expected that the number of Korean tourists in Thailand this year would increase by 10 per cent from around 1.26 million in 2007 helping to increase the revenue Thailand earns from tourism by 14.8 per cent to Bt39.6 billion baht(US$ 1.2 billion).
(TNA, February 11,2008)
• Thais eat on average 160 eggs per person per year compared with 350 eggs for Japanese, 270-280 for Singaporeans and 230-240 for Malaysians. Total daily consumption in Thailand is 25-26 million eggs and in 2007 222 million eggs were exported.
(Hen-Egg Farmers, Traders and Exporters Association)
• Pattaya, Thailand’s biggest tourism destination saw approximately 6.85 million tourists in 2007 with 20-25% consisting of Thai weekend tourists and the largest overseas group being Russians.
(Nigel Cornick, Raimon Land)
• Mobile phone service subscribers in Thailand for 2007 totaled around 52 million.
(IDC)
• Electricity generated from Liquefied Natural Gas in Thailand costs 2.5 baht per unit compared with 2 baht per unit for gas sourced from Thailand and Burma while electricity generated from hydropower transmitted as power from Laos costs 1.8-.1.9 baht per unit.
(Bangkok Post, February 6 2008)
• Thai jewellry exports are expected to reach 200 billion baht this year up from 185 billion baht in 2007.
(Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association)
• In January Thailand exported 800,000 tonnes of rice, up 25% compared to the same period in 2007.
(Bangkok Post, February 11 2008)
• During the Lunar New Year 120,000 passengers a day departed, transited and arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport.
(AOT)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Thailand Facts #18 (180 facts and statistics to date)
“They wanted facts. Facts! They demanded facts from him, as if facts could explain anything.”
Joseph Conrad
• Thailand’s share of the global electronics and electrical market is currently 3%.
• 375 real estate projects were launched in Thailand in 2007 with 83,828 units worth 208.31 billion baht.
(Agency for Real Estate Affairs)
• Thailand has had 25 prime ministers since 1932.
• Domestic car production in Thailand is expected to increase by 10.85% in 2008 to 1.29 million units.
(Federation of Thai Industries)
• Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, covers 543 square kilometres and is surrounded by 32 islands.
• Thailand is ranked 64th (down from 56th) on the UN 2088 e-Government readiness index. Sweden is ranked 1st.
• HSBC is the oldest commercial bank operating in Thailand. In 1889 King Rama V opened a private bank account.
• Thailand’s largest banks in terms of assets are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank in that order.
• Thailand was ranked 84th out 180 countries for corruption in 2007 with a score of 3.3 out of 10. In previous years it was considered less corrupt placing 59th place in 2005 and 63rd in 2006.
(Transparency International Index)
• Online internet penetration in Thailand was estimated at 10 million users for 2007.
(Bangkok Post, January 23, 2008)
Joseph Conrad
• Thailand’s share of the global electronics and electrical market is currently 3%.
• 375 real estate projects were launched in Thailand in 2007 with 83,828 units worth 208.31 billion baht.
(Agency for Real Estate Affairs)
• Thailand has had 25 prime ministers since 1932.
• Domestic car production in Thailand is expected to increase by 10.85% in 2008 to 1.29 million units.
(Federation of Thai Industries)
• Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, covers 543 square kilometres and is surrounded by 32 islands.
• Thailand is ranked 64th (down from 56th) on the UN 2088 e-Government readiness index. Sweden is ranked 1st.
• HSBC is the oldest commercial bank operating in Thailand. In 1889 King Rama V opened a private bank account.
• Thailand’s largest banks in terms of assets are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank in that order.
• Thailand was ranked 84th out 180 countries for corruption in 2007 with a score of 3.3 out of 10. In previous years it was considered less corrupt placing 59th place in 2005 and 63rd in 2006.
(Transparency International Index)
• Online internet penetration in Thailand was estimated at 10 million users for 2007.
(Bangkok Post, January 23, 2008)
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