Thailand attracts each year between 15 and 16 million tourists, including a growing number from neighboring countries such as China, India and Indonesia. In 2011 the kingdom set a new attendance record with nearly 20 million visitors and an increase of 30% of its tourism revenue. The country offers a wide variety of attractions both historical and natural.
The first tourist destination in Thailand is the resort of Pattaya, located 147 km southeast of Bangkok.
In the south, the island of Phuket on the Andaman Sea, popular for its beaches and nightlife also attracts many tourists. From there it's easy to join the Phi-Phi islands. On the other side of the Phang Nga Bay is Krabi and Ao Nang Beach. The traces of the tsunami of 26 December 2004 were quickly erased. On the other side of the Malay Peninsula, on the Gulf of Thailand, is the island of Koh Samui, popular with tourists in July and August because there is less rain than in Phuket during the rainy season. Koh Samui is less intrusive than Phuket by mass tourism.
The traveler who goes north along the east coast is the town of Petchburi, numerous temples and riches that surround it, including the palace of Phra Nakom Khiri (or Khao Wang) which extends over three hills and is overrun with monkeys. Then Hua Hin resort of wealthy inhabitants of Bangkok and Cha-am. Continuing along the coast, lies Rayong, less touristy because more industrial (oil refineries), then, of the East, Chanthaburi, famous for its market for precious stones (rubies, sapphires, topaz, opal, etc.) that is held three days a week in the street amid the fruit and vegetable sellers.
Bangkok, the capital and its 10 million inhabitants, attracts tourists who visit number Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Arun, and on the other side of the Chao Phraya River are other sites almost deserted, as Wat Suthat, the Wat Benchamabophit (Marble) or Phukhao Thong, the "golden mountain".
On the northern route, are the historical sites of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai.
