Bangkok Business Essentials

As the commercial centre of Thailand and the region, all sorts of services are available to the business visitor in Bangkok. Check this section for useful contacts, services and other leads, as well as general information about getting around town, communication services and other matters to consider when planning and settling business in Thailand.

All major national and most international financial, law, accounting and consulting firms have a presence in Bangkok. Furthermore, Chambers of Commerce, Embassies and other public sector institutions are headquartered in the commercial hub of the capital, facilitating whatever type of business you have in Thailand.

Thailand's communications network is reasonably fast and efficient. International mail services are relatively speedy, telephone and fax services are possible nearly everywhere and Internet access is available at most hotels and Internet cafes that can be found all around town.

Thailand is full of business opportunities and naturally expects those who wish to reside or conduct business in the Kingdom to follow and respect the respective laws on immigration and work.

As all of those living and working in Thailand know, people here enjoy quite a generous number of public holidays. Many of these are linked to religious or agricultural traditions and follow the lunar calendar which means dates of some these holidays change from year to year.

Somewhat more of a delight to employees than to employers, public holidays are an important factor to consider when scheduling a business trip to the Land of Smiles. Especially those that are consecutive, like Songkran, the Thai New Year Festival. Many companies operate on a slower pace before and during these days, or shut down completely, which may delay processes or courses of action at places like government institutions. So make sure you plan for these when scheduling your business trip.

The government lays out 15 public holidays that are nationwide, but some organisations give more than these. Try to establish those prior to setting up your schedule. Also note that government offices are usually closed on Public Holidays and on Mondays if the holiday took place during a weekend day. Furthermore, when planning meetings it is advisable to note that generally people do not work on Saturdays.

January 1 - New Year's Day
February- Chinese New Year
Late January to early March - Makha Bucha Day
April - Chakri Day
April 13 - 15 - Songkran Holiday, Thai New Year Celebrations
May 1 - National Labour Day
May 5 - Coronation Day
May 7 - Visakha Bucha Day
May 16 - Ploughing Ceremony
July - Asarnha Bucha Day
July - Buddhist Lent
August 12 - HR The Queen's Birthday
October 23 - Chulalongkorn Day
December 5 - HR The King's birthday

Bangkok International Airport - Quick Info. Inquiries: 02 535 1254 (Departures) 02 535 1310 (Arrivals)

Location
25 kilometres north of Bangkok city centre.
Terminals: 3
International Passenger Terminals 1 & 2 - located next to each other Domestic Passenger Terminal 3 - Located 500 metres from Terminal 2
Transfer between Terminals
A free shuttle bus service connecting International terminals 1 & 2 and Domestic terminal 3 operates every 15 minutes 0530-2300.
Visas/Immigration
Short-stay tourist visas may be obtained at airport immigration, which can result in entry queues being longer than at other airports. Visas regulations are subject to frequent changes so it's important to check with your local Thai consulate before you leave.

Transport into Bangkok City Centre
Taxi: 1. Pre-paid airport taxi vouchers can be purchased from the Thai Airways counter. 2. Metered taxis are available outside the Departures building. A system of queuing operates to obtain a voucher first which is then given to the cab driver. Pay the driver direct at your destination and note that a 50 Baht airport surcharge will be added to the total fare - this is standard. Some drivers "forget" to turn on the meter. Politely ask them to do so before you depart. Journey time to central Bangkok: around 30-90 minutes depending on traffic. Take the faster tollways en route, if you are in a hurry and pay the driver direct at each toll booth (around 30-40 Baht per segment) Average price Airport - Bangkok city centre around 200-300 Baht depending on distance and time of day.
Limousine
A limousine service counter is available in the Arrivals hall of International Passenger Terminals 1 and 2. Prices start around 500 Baht.

Information and Help Desks
Airport information counters are located in the Arrivals and Departures halls within the International and Domestic terminals. The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) counter is located in the shared Arrivals hall of both International Passenger Terminals 1 and 2.

Short Stay Accommodation
There are several hotels where you can arrange accommodation while in transit. Or if you simply need to rest for a few hours. The Amari Airport Hotel is conncected directly to the airport by a footbridge and has soundproofed rooms. There are other hotels close by (about 15 minutes) that offer excellent accommodation at reasonable rates. Click here for more airport hotel information.

Business Centre/Internet
The airport has a business centre, providing telephone, fax, computers and meeting rooms, in the transit/transfer centre of International Passenger Terminal 1. Internet is available in International Passenger Terminal 1 and in the business passenger lounge.

Meeting/Conference Facilities
The airport has a business centre, with all the usual facilities including, computers and meeting rooms, in the transit/transfer centre of International Passenger Terminal 1. The Amari Airport Hotel, connected to the airport by an air-conditioned footbridge, also offers conference facilities.

Time Zone GMT + 7

Other Airport Facilties:
Currency Exchange & ATMs: available in all terminals
Mail: Postal service is also available at the airport.
Food: The usual ubiquitous fast food outlets plus local restaurants
Shopping: Several gift & souvenir shops, duty-free shop and bookstore
Smoking: There are smoking rooms in International Passenger Terminal 1.
Medical: A 24-hour medical emergency clinic operates on the ground floor of International Passenger Terminal 1, near Arrivals; two other medical rooms exist in International Passenger Terminal 2
VAT Refund 2 counters available in International Passenger Terminal 1.

A logistics hub and popular tourist destination, Bangkok is the gateway to Thailand and Southeast Asia. As such, most airlines approach Bangkok's Don Muang airport, which is soon to be replaced by the new 'Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Airlines are represented at both the airport and in town.

Considering Bangkok's notorious traffic conditions, some pressure and inconvenience can be taken off by hiring a chauffeur or driver. No need to figure out where places are, how to best get there or fight your way through gridlocks. Instead, chauffeur services allow you the convenience to sit back and relax while a driver takes you around town.

Chauffeur or limousine services can be arranged from most hotels and serviced residences, while car rental companies, like Budget Car, also provide cars with drivers. Rates depend on type of car, duration and location of service, and gasoline price.

Did you know Thaiticketmaster provides limousine services in and around Bangkok? For information check their website.

Even without the luxury of a chauffeur, getting around Bangkok using public transport is surprisingly easy. To read more about the capital's taxis, Tuk Tuks, Skytrain, busses and boats, check our travel around section.

Full Country Name: Thailand, Prathet Thai in Thai, which means 'land of the free.'

Capital: Bangkok

Geography: The Kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia naturally making it the gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Thailand borders onto Myanmar in the west and north, Lao P.D.R. in the north and northeast, Cambodia in the southeast, and Malaysia in the south.

Thailand's shape and natural geography is characterised by mountains and forests in the north, vast rice fields in the central plains, semi-arid farmlands in the northeast, and lush tropical islands and the long coastlines of the peninsular south.

The country covers 513,115 square kilometres and is divided into 76 provinces. Bangkok is the capital and centre for political, commercial, industrial and cultural activity.

Population: Thailand's people are made up of Thai (80%), Chinese (10%), Malay (3%) and other ethnic minorities such as Mons or Khmer. Well over 62 million people inhabit the Land of Smiles, of which about 10 million reside in Bangkok. Thai people are known for their friendliness and hospitality.

Language: Though spoken and written Thai is more or less incomprehensible to the casual visitor, English is widely understood, especially in Bangkok. At most tourist destinations, English is generally spoken at hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist sites. Road and street signs are Thai-English nationwide.

Religion: Buddhist (95%), Muslim (4%), Other (1%)

Government: Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932, with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty being present Head of State, and Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra present Prime Minister.

A country of geographical diversity and rich agricultural resources Thailand's rural sector was the major employer for many years with a large percentage of the population engaged in agriculture. During the 1980s and early 1990s the industrial and services sectors, operating in a bouyant economic climate, began to expand rapidly. The economy reached an average annual growth rate of almost 9%. - leading to an influx or people to the cities looking for work in these new industries.

One of the original "Asian Tigers," Thailand was hit severely when the Asian financial crisis of 1997 affected the entire region. Shock-waves were felt both regionally and throughout the domestic economy. Unemployment increased dramatically and the government was forced to take swift action to stabilise the Thai baht. Assisted by the tourism industry, the economy began to recover until the events of Sept 11 2001sent growth rates plummeting to just over 1% compared to over 6% in 2000.

Tourism played a major part in Thailand's gradual recovery and continues, despite setbacks like SARS, to improve. Following the '97 Asian crisis the government launched its 'Amazing Thailand' campaign, resulting in a dramatic increase in visitors keen to take advantage of the devalued baht. Tourist arrivals have continued to increase each year, with ongoing marketing campaigns by the Tourism Authority of Thailand significantly contributing to increasing Thailand's profile as a destination. In 2002, Thailand welcomed 10.1 million tourists (Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand).

Thailand is considered the hub of South East Asia with a very busy airport and most of the world's international airlines landing here. Bangkok is also considered the gateway to other markets in the region, especially China and many multinational companies have a presence in the city. Toyota, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Philips, Sony, Compaq and more recently Tesco. Despite SARS the economy is showing signs of improving. Tourism still plays a major role with a greater emphasis on regional markets. The government is also focussing on better English language skills and improving computer literacy for young people.