THAILAND - THE ROUGH GUIDE

With over six million foreigners flying into the country each year, Thailand has become Asia's primary holiday destination. The influx of tourists and their cash has played a significant part in the country's development, yet Thailand's cultural integrity remains largely undamaged except for the main resorts. In this country of fifty-three million people, over ninety percent are practising Theravada Buddhists, a unifying faith which colours all aspects of daily life - from the tiered temple rooftops that dominate every skyline, to the omnipresent saffron-robed monks and the packed calendar of festivals. Furthermore, though the high-rises and neon lights occupy the foreground of the tourist picture, the typical Thai community is the traditional farming village, and some ninety percent of Thais still earn their living from the land.