The Kingdom of Thailand, located in Southeast Asia on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, shares boundaries with Myanmar (Burma) on the west and northwest, Laos on the east and northeast, Cambodia (Kampuchea) on the southeast, and Malaysia on the south. Thailand, although rich in rubber and in mineral resources, was never colonised by Europeans and has existed as a unified monarchy since 1350. The capital, Bangkok, an attractive blend of Western and Thai architecture, was established in 1782.

There is more visible historical evidence of the past eras in Thailand than in any other Southeast Asian country, so if you’re interested in ruins, temples and deserted cities, this is the place to go. For pure holiday-making magic, Thailand’s islands and beaches are working definitions of heaven (once you get out of the shadows of the evil multinational hotels). And as for urban delights, the huge metropolis of Bangkok, although it can alarm with its chaos and its scale, tends to so charm visitors with its energy and cultural treasures that the steamy soupy diesel mixture that passes for air in this city is more forgiven.

Thailand is an easy country to travel, with efficient transport, cheap accommodation and a delicious national cuisine. Thais are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality to strangers. Although they’re often depicted as fun-loving, happy-go-lucky folk (which they often are), they are also very strong-minded and have struggled for centuries to preserve their spirit of independence.

Agriculture is the primary means of employment, but industry, commerce, and services account for the 80% of the gross domestic product.