General Information

• 1. Transportation
• 2. Regulations for Foreign Visitors to Thailand
• 3. Immigration Requirements
  
  Thai Immigration Authority
  
  
• 4. Health and Vaccinations
• 5. Foreign Exchange
• 6. Time
• 7. Business Hours
• 8. Weather
• 9. Population
• 10. Language
• 11. Electricity

1. Transportation

Bangkok International Airport is approximately 25 kilometers from the city centre. It is suggested that participants use the following airport transportation services which are easily visible inside/outside the airport:

1.1 Limousine: Limousine services are available in both Terminals of the International Arrival Hall. Tickets for this service may be purchased from Counter No. 7 in Terminal 1 or Counter No. 5 in Terminal 2. The rates for limousine rental are as follows:

Car	Transp Transportation rate from airport to hotels in Bangkok area (Baht )
Trip	One Way	Round Trip
Premium	1,500	3,000
Standard	1,000	2,000

1.2 Airport Bus: The airport buses are air–conditioned, run about every 15 mins and cost 100 Baht per person. Buses run from 4.30 am – 00.30 am. The bus stop is easily visible outside the terminal. There are 4 different routes into town and the buses only stop at some main areas. The bus routes and numbers are:

Route AB – 1: Airport - Charoen Krung Road

AB – 2: Airport - Sanam Luang (pass Siam City Hotel and Royal Princess Hotel)

AB – 3: Airport - Sukhumvit Road

AB – 4: Airport - Rama IV Road

1.3 Airport Taxi: A public taxi counter is located outside the terminal for providing services. Details of destination should be given at the counter and a taxi will be arranged for the passenger with a note of the taxi number which should be kept. The fares should be paid according to the meter. In addition, the passenger should also pay the following surcharges as follows:

1. 50 Baht on top of the metered fee
2. 30 Baht and 40 Baht if taking the tollway and expressway downtown (which is faster in heavy traffic)

2. Regulations for Foreign Visitors to Thailand

Foreign nationals visiting Thailand must possess valid passports or accepted travel documents and appropriate visas before entering the country. Visitors from certain countries are permitted to stay up to 15 days without visas, if possessing tickets confirming departure within 15 days. Visitors from several other countries are allowed to apply for tourist visas at all ports of entry. Transit visas are granted for up to 30 days and tourist visas for up to 60 days. Non-immigrants, diplomatic and official visas are valid for up to 90 days.

3. Immigration Requirements 

Nationals of the following 40 countries and territories and may enter and stay in Thailand for a maximum period of 30 days without a visa. However, if the duration of their stay is expected to exceed 30 days, an appropriate entry visa must be obtained in advance from Thai diplomatic or consular missions:

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Bahrain
4. Belgium
5. Brazil
6. Brunei Darussalam
7. Canada
8. Denmark
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China)
14. Indonesia
15. Ireland
16. Israel
17. Italy
18. Japan
19. Kuwait
20. Luxembourg
21. Macao, (Special Administrative Region of China)
22. Malaysia
23. Netherlands
24. New Zealand
25. Norway
26. Peru
27. Philippines
28. Portugal
29. Qatar
30. Republic of Korea
31. Singapore
32. South Africa
33. Spain
34. Sweden
35. Switzerland
36. Turkey
37. United Arab Emirates
38. United Kingdom
39. States of America
40. Vietnam

In addition to the above 40 countries, nationals holding a valid diplomatic or official passport of the following 16 countries may enter and stay in Thailand for the period specified in each visa waiver agreement between Thailand and the country concerned. The periods specified in the agreements range from 30 days to 90 days.

1. Argentina
2. Chile
3. China
4. Croatia
5. Czech Republic
6. Hungary
7. Lao People’s Democratic Republic
8. Leichtenstein
9. Mexico
10. Mongolia
11. Myanmar
12. Nepal
13. Poland
14. Romania
15. Slovakia
16. Tunisia

Nationals of the following 14 countries may be granted a visa for a stay not exceeding 15 days upon arrival by the Thai Immigration Authority at Bangkok International Airport, conditional on meeting certain requirements:

1. Bhutan
2. China
3. Cyprus
4. Czech Republic
5. Hungary
6. India
7. Kazakhstan
8. Maldives
9. Mauritius
10. Oman
11. Poland
12. Russian Federation
13. Saudi Arabia
14. Ukraine

These requirements are as follows :

• Nationals must be in possession of a valid passport or an appropriate travel document recognized by the Government of Thailand.
• Nationals must be in possession of an air ticket valid for a return journey within 15 days.
• Nationals must provide two passport-size photographs and a visa fee of approximately 1,000 Baht.

Participants from countries other than those listed above are strongly recommended to obtain appropriate entry visas prior to arriving in Thailand.

Holders of a United Nations Laissez- Passer are exempted from visa requirements for visits not exceeding 30 days.

4. Health and Vaccinations

The spaces inside the United Nations buildings are smoke-free areas. Participants are allowed to smoke only in the designated areas outside the buildings. Yellow fever vaccination is required for participants from endemic countries. Participants are recommended to have vaccinations against hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. Participants travelling from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) affected areas are required to follow the instructions issued by the Ministry of Public Health, Royal Thai Government when entering Thailand. They are required to present a health certificate issued by appropriate authorities in the SARS-affected areas within 48 hours before their travel.

5. Foreign Exchange

Participants may bring with them into Thailand unrestricted sums of foreign currency in the form of traveller’s cheques, drafts, letters of credit or other banking instruments which may be exchanged for Thai currency at the prevailing bank rates. Participants may be required to declare the amount of traveller’s cheques or foreign currency in their possession upon arrival at the International Airport in Bangkok.

6. Time

Time in Thailand is seven hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT + 7).

7. Business Hours

Government sector: 8.30 to 16.30 hrs.

Bank: 8.30 to 15.30 hrs.

Shopping centres: 10.00 to 21.00 hrs

8. Weather

The average temperature in Bangkok during October varies from 25 to 35 degrees centigrade. Light tropical clothing will be sufficient. The conference rooms in UNCC are air conditioned at approximately 24 degrees centigrade.

9. Population

The population in Thailand is approximately 62 million, of which around 6 million live in the capital city Bangkok.

10. Language

The national and official language is Thai while English is widely spoken and understood in major cities, particularly in Bangkok and in business circles.

11. Electricity

220 volts 50 cycles throughout the country.