Welcome to Thailand

• Introduction• Brief History and hill tribes• Religion• Major tourist attractions• Food Culture• Customs and Traditions• Sex Industry• Conclusion

Geography

4 main zones:the fertile central plains; the northeast plateau;the mountainous North; the tropical southern peninsula.

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E

Area: 514,000 sq km

Climate Temp.: 38°C-19°C (annual average :29°C.) Humidity :66%-82.8%.

Capital : Bangkok

National flag :RED- the nation, WHITE- Religion BLUE- the monarchy

Population : 63,038,247(2007 est.)

Sex ratio: 0.97 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate : 1.6 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups: Thai 80%, Chinese 15%, other 5%

Thailand –background information

Brief Introduction of Thai History

Ancient Empires

Hill TribesThe origin of Thai people

Where are Tai people originally from?

• migrated originally from southern China

• originally from what is today Szechuan province in China

• have moved in and out of Southeast Asia beginning as early as 5000 years ago

Ancient Empires

• NanChao Kingdom

Ancient Empires

• Dvaravati Civilization

Ancient Empires

• The influence of Pagan, Mon and Khmer

Ancient Empires

• The kingdom of Sukhothai

• The Ayutthaya empire

Hill Tribes

• who are those ethnic groups

• 7 major tribes and some smaller tribes

• Becoming major tourists attraction

Religion

1 •Brief introduction of Buddhism

2 •Monk Hood in Thailand

3 •Temples and Villages

4 •The religious influence on thai’s way of getting along with people

Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%

Brief introduction of Buddhism

Theravada

Mahayana

Vajrayana

Over 90% of Thai people

The Monk Hood in Thailand

http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/media/blogs/new/090701b.jpg

http://www.thai-blogs.com/media/leaving_01.jpg

The Monk Hood in Thailand

www.luteyn.net/Thailand/Monnikken_E.html

The Monk Hood in Thailand

www.luteyn.net/Thailand/Monnikken_E.html

The temple and villages

http://www.thai-blogs.com/media/blogs/steve/Watou3.jpg

THAI VILLAGE TEMPLE

http://www.thaihomestays.com/images/temple1.jpg

The religious influence on Thai’s way of getting along with people

The Thai smile

A “weapon”

The religious influence on Thai’s way of getting along with people

A slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion

www.thailandbuddy.com/culture/index.html

The religious influence on Thai’s way of getting along with people

The wai has been adopted by western cultural symbols in Thailand, including

McDonald’s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ronald_mcdonald_thailand.jpg

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Wat Pho in Bangkok

•combines history, medical science and is a center for meditation and traditional massage training

•most famous for the golden reclining Buddha that measures 46 meters and has feet inlaid with mother-of pearl.

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Vimanmek Palace in Bangkok• an outstanding example of 19th

century architecture

• the principal building in the palace compound

• built for King Rama V

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai

• most important and famous Chiang Mai landmark

• The temples courtyard is lined by a cloister, which contains images and murals depicting Buddha’s life.

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai • the best known of the northern

temples

• once housed the Emerald Buddha

• Has most important Buddha statue which was discovered in 1444

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Phraya Singhanatracha Memorial in Mae Hong Son

•commemorates the first governor of Mae Hong Son

•As a Thai Yai native from Burma (Myanmar), He was regarded by the people as the governor of Khun Yuam Town

Some Major Tourist Attractions

Wat To Phae in Mae Hong Son

•it is said that raft assembling people used to gather up in this area prior to making a teak trees raft trip to the marketing places.

……………………Food…………………..

• fresh herbs, spices, fish sauce

• four fundamental tastes:– salty, spicy, sweet, and sour

Typical Thai meal• a curry, a stir-fry, a salad, a vegetable dish , a soup, Rice

• Healthy

• popular dishes: tom yam kung (spicy shrimp soup)

kaeng khiao wan kai (green chicken curry) phat thai (fried noodles of Thai style)

Thailand as eating paradise

Fresh !Delicious

!Cheap !

Seafood -easily acquired (many rivers and the sea)

Fruits-well harvested (the ideal tropical climate and growing environment)

Grains, vegetables, meat (major agricultural country)

Eating etiquette fork , spoon and hands; X knife (all ingredients are cut in slices or small pieces)

Frequent snacking

X Wasting of food

Group dining (sharing harmony)

Eating on the ground

I can sense the HARMONY among the Thais !

Custom

• No shoes indoor– feet : the lowest and dirtiest part of the body

• Don’t touch anyone’s head– head : the most respected part

• smiling but little eye contact during conversation– Sincere, quiet, subtle and indirect

• squat toilet• water reservoirs• Time concept- late is commonly acceptable

– Common Traffic jam– Slow service procedure– Late appointments

Festival• Chiang Mai Flower Festival (taking place for 3 days from the first Friday of February)

– promote the growing of flowers and decorative plants in Chiang Mai

– feature a parade of dances and music, beauty contests and display of precious plants.

• Songkran Festival (13-15 Apr)

traditional Thai New Year

– water splashing– merit making, – cleaning houses– honouring elders– parades of dancers and music troupes– boat races

• Candle Festival (usually held on Khao Phansa Day)

– huge, intricately carved candles to be lit continuously

– folk dances and floats to the monasteries

• Loi Krathong Festival (8 Nov)

– float krathongs (lotus-shaped vessels lovely decorated with flowers and lit candles)

– thanksgiving and worship to the Goddess of Water

SportTHAI BOXING

"MUAY THAI"

-use of hands, shins, elbows, and knees“The Art of the Eight Limbs"

Sex Industry

http://www.indigoguide.com/thailand/industry.htm

Tradition Poverty By product of Vietnam War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PatPong_Dancer.jpg

Thailand Sex Worship

Thailand Sex Worship

Female Go-go dancer in Thailand

•Prostitution•Child Prostitution

Patpong Prostitute District

The transsexual Thai boxer

Miss Tiffany constestants

Kathoey• Transgender, transvestite, transsexual• Now: homosexual• More “accepted” in society• Kathoey beauty contests

KATHOEY, TRANSSEXUAL/ FEMALE IMPERSONATOR, PATTAYA

Photos from Miss Tiffany

Gay Festival

Conclusion

Culture Analysis

High Context culture

Masculinity

Dynamism

High Power Distance

Collectivism

High Uncertainty Avoidance

EFFECT OF CULTURE TO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRYConclusion

Thai Culture

Food

Sex industry

Festivals

TemplesIncrease hospitality and tourism industry

reference• Clift S. & Luongo M. & Callister C., gay tourism culture, identity and sex, Edited, 2002,

continuum, New York• Hoare, Timothy, Thailand: A Global Studies Handbook, ABC-CLIO, Inc, Sta Barbara,

California, Usa• Kislenko, Arne. Culture and customs of Thailand, Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press,

2004.• Mortimer, Louis, Thailand, A Country Study, 1989 United States Government, United

States of America• Pattaya mail, Pattaya Mail – Vol. XV No.9 – Friday March 2 – March 8, 2007 Our

Community, [Online] (Updated March 8, 2007), Available at: http://www.pattayamail.com/709/community.shtml [Accessed 22.Oct.09]

• Ryan C. & Hall C.M., Sex Tourism – Marginal people and liminalities, 2001, Routledge, London

• Slaughter R. and Kerbo H, Modern Thailand, 2000, The McGraw-Gill Companies, United States of America

• Truong T.D., Sex,Money and Morality: Prostitution and Tourism in Southeast Asia, 1990, Zed Books Ltd., USA

References

• Thai Photo Blogs, Thailand Pictures: Miss Tiffany 2009, [Online] (Updated 16 May, 2009), Available at: http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/index.php?blog=5&title=miss-tifffany-2009&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 [Accessed 22.Oct.09]

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PatPong_Dancer.jpg• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand• http://www.indigoguide.com/thailand/industry.htm• http://www.hellosiam.com/html/thailand/thailand-religion.htm• http://www.thaibuddhism.net• http://www.thaiworldview.com

Thank you!

Group Member:GeraldineHansooLucyMichelleMaria