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The tourist industry in Thailand is booming, and not just because of the large number of tourists, but also because more and more tourist attractions are being established every year. That is perhaps the most important thing to remember when planning a trip to stay in Thailand; though there are millions of tourists visiting every year, there is always somewhere to go where you can avoid the big crowds. There are three major sections of this beautiful country: the mainland, the Thai peninsula, and the surrounding coastal islands. In the south of the Thailand mainland there are three castles, Sanam Chan Palace, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, and King Narai's Palace, bordering on architectural phenomena, in the Phra Nakhon Si Ayuthaya, and Nakhon Pathom Provinces. The two provinces are side by side in Thailand so it makes visiting very easy. Another fascinating attraction is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the country's largest and capital city.

In the peninsula region of Thailand, naturally the most popular attraction is the warm sand, long stretches of crystal clear blue water, and the bright night life. The long beaches are great for those who wish to just relax on the sand, and soak up the sun. But then there are also water sports, such as boating, para-sailing and swimming. Then of course there's fishing, collecting beautiful shells, bicycling along beach front bike paths. There's something for everyone as far as Thai night life goes. Dance clubs, and cultural festivals, for families or honeymooners out to experience Thailand's historical culture. For those visitors trying to experience a more quiet and romantic getaway, there are hundreds of major luxury resorts on the coasts of Southern Thailand, where you and your sweetie can lounge in spa, or on a pool deck.

Then there are the islands of Thailand, which are the epicenter for ecotourism in Thailand. The endangered horn bill species of exotic birds nest on only two of Thailand's islands surrounding Phuket, drawing in many environmentally friendly tourists. Thailand's Royal Navy has established the islands as an ecotourism attraction where visitors can feed bananas to the birds twice a day, as well as hike through their natural habitats and view the birds in the wild.

Phuket itself, despite having endured a massive tsunami a couple years ago, has made gleaming progress; the beaches are once again beautiful, clean and attractive. Some resorts in the area actually have their own islands off the coast, offering their guests the ultimate tropical vacation getaway. What would you do on your own private island?

Quick Facts

Destinations

Ko Pha Ngan In the Gulf of Siam, around 60km off the shore of the Kra Isthmus lies the tiny island of Ko Phangan (also known as Ko Pha Ngan). The 14,000 strong Thai community occupying Ko Pha Ngan's 103 square miles of land welcomes thousands of visitors to the shores each year. Tourists often come especially f...

Ko Samui Between Malaysia and Thailand lies a thin stretch of land known as the Kra Isthmus. Just 50 miles east of this stretch of land is Ko Samui (Koh Samui or simply just 'Samui'); a south eastern Thai island that is just 9.3 miles in diameter. The origins of Ko Samui's name is an area of debate, with...

Pattaya Pattaya in a cosmopolitan city located in the heart of Thailand's coast, not far from Bangkok, which attracts several million visitors each year to its award winning beaches. Pattaya is considered as one of the top seaside resorts globally and has undergone a considerable amount of reconstruction si...

Phuket Resting in the heart of the Andaman Sea, in between Krabi and Phang Nga lies the province and island of Phuket. With a population of over 320 thousand, Phuket has been ranked the 75th largest province in Thailand, which also makes it one of the least busy. Due to this slightly more relaxed atmospher...