Useful Information, Business hours, Tourist Police, Water, Import and Exports

Business Hours:

Most commercial concerns in Bangkok operate on a five-day week. Government offices are generally open between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. with a noon to 1.00 p.m. lunch break, Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. Private businesses maintain much the same hours perhaps 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with certain exceptions. Many stores open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tourist Police:

In 1982, the Tourist Police was set up to coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in providing safety for tourists. Its responsibilities are receiving and acknowledging claims and complaints; conduction investigation and acting as co-coordinator of tourist security protection. At present, some 500 tourist police officers are stationed in major tourist areas such as the Grand Palace, Pat pong and Lumphini Park.

Bi-lingual Tourist Police are attached to Tourism Authority of Thailand offices in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket and Kanchanaburi to provide speedy assistance to visitors.

In case of emergency, contact the Tourist Police Centre (Section 4), Crime Suppression Division, 29/1 Unico House Building Soi Lung Suan Ploenchit Road Bangkok. Tel: 652 1721-6 ext. section 4 or call the TAT Help line at Tel: 281 5051, 282 8129 Fax: 281 5051

Local time

GMT + 6 hours British summer time

GMT + 7 hours otherwise

Major Agricultural Exports

Rice / Tapioca / Rubber / Maize / Pineapples / Durians /

Longans / Palm Oil / Herbs.

Major Manufactured Exports

Computers and accessories / integrated circuits / Textiles

Electronics / Cars and parts / gems & jewellery / Televisions & accessories.

Water

It's best to drink only bottled water, however I did hear some months ago that Thailand was making the tap water safer to drink. I have not received confirmation of this yet.