Thailand
Business relationships in Thailand are not as formal as those found in Japan, China, Korea or the Middle East, but neither are they as relaxed and impersonal as is common in the West. Many business relationships have their foundations in personal relationships developed within the social circles of family, friends, classmates and office colleagues.
Although Thailand is a relatively open and friendly society, it is advisable to approach potential business contacts with a prior introduction or personal reference. Thais will be more receptive if you arrive with an introduction or letter from a known government official or business contact. Respect for, and consideration of, one's elders, superiors and patrons is deeply rooted in the Thai cultural and social environments. Thais are very reluctant to hurt the feelings of others or to cause them any dissatisfaction. Losing one's composure is losing face and losing respect in Thailand. Therefore, it can be difficult for Westerners to be sure they have received accurate and complete answers to questions, or that they have solicited frank and open opinions.
Any entity wishing to do business in Thailand must register with the Department of Commercial Registration in the Ministry of Commerce. Firms engaging in production activities need to register with the Ministries of Industry and Labor.
The Alien Occupation Law of 1972 (decree no. 322) lists the occupations reserved exclusively for Thais, which include professional services such as accounting, architecture, law and engineering, the manufacture of traditional Thai handicrafts and manual labor. The law also states that all non-Thais working in Thailand, with limited exceptions, must possess a work permit issued at the discretion of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, although some foreigners already working in Thailand were exempted through a "grandfather" clause. The factors that influence the granting of work permits are the degree of specialization required by the position; the size of the firm in terms of number of employees and registered capitalization; and the ratio of Thai nationals to foreigners employed by the firm.
Foreigners, working for the Royal Thai Government or working for projects promoted by the Board of Investment, usually have little difficulty obtaining work permits. Work permits in other areas are sometimes difficult to obtain, despite the fact that senior managers and technical personnel are in short supply.
Non-Thai businesses and citizens are not permitted to own land in Thailand unless given permission by the Board of Investment, or unless the land is on government-approved industrial estates. Petroleum concessionaires may own land necessary for their activities. Many foreign businesses instead sign long-term leases, and then construct buildings on the leased land. Non-Thais are allowed to own up to forty percent of a condominium building, though other restrictions apply. As of June 1998, the government had announced plans to issue regulations allowing one hundred percent foreign ownership of condominium and office building projects. Obtaining qualified legal advice is recommended for Americans planning to invest in Thailand. This is particularly important because Thai business regulations are governed predominantly by criminal rather than civil law. Violation of Thai business regulations can carry heavy criminal penalties, and criminal liability can be assessed under numerous different laws.
Thailand has laws protecting the rights of copyright, patent and trademark holders, but the law is in need of much improvement. Enforcement is still a cause for much concern, and is a significant bilateral issue. Large quantities of infringing goods continue to be sold at the retail level. Since November 1994, Thailand has been on the Special 301 "watch list." In September 1996, the Thai Parliament passed a long-awaited law establishing an intellectual property and international trade court, which began operations in December 1997. Appeals procedures at the trademark and patent offices have also been streamlined.
Office hours are 0900-1700 Monday to Friday for businesses and 0830-1200 and 1300-1630 Monday to Friday for government.
Although there is a large foreign community residing in or visiting Bangkok and other locations in Thailand, there have been very few documented cases of a security or safety nature involving activity directed against foreigners. Most incidents consist of crimes of opportunity such as purse snatching, pickpocketing, and residential theft.
Drug trafficking is rampant in northern Thailand's share of "The Golden Triangle" but poses no direct threat to foreign visitors despite certain western governments' support of drug eradication programs in the region. Local authorities are very protective toward valued tourists and other foreign visitors in the Chiang Mai area and urge tourists who desire to venture outside the city to do so only in organized groups.
Felony crimes such as assault, murder, and rape occur although foreigners are not specifically targeted. Petty crimes are common in areas where tourists tend to gather. Many believe tourists are targeted for personal property crimes because they are assumed not to speak enough Thai to file a police report or be willing to remain indefinitely in Thailand waiting for the apprehension of a suspect and lengthy court trial. Many tourists are victimized by persons offering to serve as a guide, free of charge, in order to practice English or another foreign language. Such "guides," for example, may steer victims to gemstone dealers who overcharge for inferior quality stones or lead them to disreputable establishments in the city's "red light" district where "sex shows" entail cover charges, exorbitant drink prices and "pay per view" fees which the unfortunate victim must either pay or risk being assaulted
It is unlikely that a police officer will be available to render assistance. While the Bangkok police are considered reasonably good, few regular officers speak anything but Thai. Special tourist police are among the few with foreign language capabilities and they usually are present at such tourist attractions as temples ("wats"). On arriving at the Bangkok airport, travelers should make certain that they do not take any transportation other than approved airport taxis. The airport is crowded with touts who try to sell visitors on personal transportation. Visitors should be cautioned to take their time and remain in line for approved taxis and not try to save time by going with the touts. Streets are discovering a new phenomenon in the form of metered taxis. Visitors should not venture into taxis without meters. Visitors are also cautioned to stay away from touts who try to interest them in certain shopping areas or certain entertainment areas. Prices should be set before purchases are made. Do not accompany local touts to any destination and be extremely careful in bars, massage parlors or houses of ill repute. Tourists who are seeking female or male sexual companionship should be extremely concerned over 'laced' drinks, cautious about their money, and negotiations should definitely be made in advance. The danger in Thailand is much more from con artists than from perpetrators of violence, but nevertheless, there is a large criminal element and visitors should be on the alert. The tourist police are quite helpful.
In the city of Pattaya, police are reported to frequently receive complaints of women drugging and robbing tourists who often come to Pattaya for its famed sex industry. Women have been accused of coating their nipples with tranquilizers that knock men out after they lick the drug. Others put drugs into their victims' drinks, and then rob them after they pass out, police said. The Thai government's board of tourism considers drugging such a problem that it has published a poster advising, "When a stranger offers you free food or drink, please say no."
All types of accommodations are available-from five star international hotels, to serviced apartments, to moderate, comfortable business hotels, to modest but safe, clean guesthouses. Establishments catering to business clientele usually offer full-service business centers with international communications. The economic downturn, and overbuilding of hotels means that Bangkok is offering some of the best accommodation bargains in the world and Thailand is vying actively for business and leisure travel and convention business. Ample western style residential apartments and houses are available for foreign residents. The construction of high-rise condominium projects in the past few years has increased available quality accommodation in the Bangkok metropolitan area and other major cities.
Telephone IDD service is available and the country code is 66. The outgoing international code is 001. Communications for the business traveler in Bangkok and major cities is efficient, with worldwide access for voice, fax and data with international direct dialing. Cellular phones are very common and can be rented for short stays. A foreign cellular phone will not work in Thailand, although the appearance of the new global GPS phones is changing that. In rural or remote areas cell coverage is spotty and only first class hotels have reliable land coverage.
Current is 240 volts AC, 50Hz and use both American and European-style 2-pin plugs. Business travelers should bring converters and surge protectors, although they are available on the local market.
220 volts AC, 50Hz. American- and European-style two-pin plugs are in use.
A,B,C
There are many Asian and European restaurants. Thai food is hot and spicy, but most tourist restaurants tone down the food for Western palates. Pri-kee-noo, a tiny red or green pepper, is one of the hot ingredients that might best be avoided. These are generally served on a side plate in a vinaigrette with the main course. Popular fruits are papaya, jackfruit, mangosteens, rambutans, pomelos (similar to grapefruits) and, above all, durians, which farangs (foreigners) either love or hate. Owing to the strong smell of durians, the majority of
hotels do not allow them onto the premises.
Things to know: Bars have counter or table service. There are no licensing laws.National specialties:
• Tom yam (a coconut-milk soup prepared with makroot leaves, ginger, lemon grass, prawns or chicken).
• Gang pet (hot 'red' curry with coconut milk, herbs, garlic, chillies, shrimp paste, coriander and seasoning) served with rice.
• Kaeng khiaw ('green' curry with baby aubergines, beef or chicken) served with rice and gai yang (barbecued chicken).
• Kao pat (fried rice with pieces of crab meat, chicken, pork, onion, egg and saffron) served with onions, cucumber, soy sauce and chillies.
• Desserts include salim (sweet noodles in coconut milk).
• Songkaya (pudding of coconut milk, eggs and sugar often served in a coconut shell).
• Well worth trying is sticky rice and mangoes (rice cooked in coconut milk served with slices of mango). This is a favorite breakfast dish in the mango harvest season (March to May). National drinks:
• Local whisky, either Mekhong or SamSong.
• Coconut milk straight from the shell during the harvest season. Tipping:
Most hotels and restaurants will add 10 per cent service charge and seven per cent Government tax to the bill.Nightlife
Bangkok offers a wide range of entertainment venues, from nightclubs, pubs, bars, cinemas and restaurants (many of which are open air), to massage parlours, pool halls and cocktail lounges. Performances of traditional religious and court dances can be seen at the Thai Cultural Center. Elsewhere on the mainland, nightlife takes the form of traditional dances. The islands are renowned for their nightlife, and attendance is almost exclusively foreigners. The full moon parties are notorious and continue well into the following morning.
