Editing Bangkok (section)

==Tourism==
{{Main|Tourism in Bangkok}}
[[File:Grand Palace Bangkok (173279731).jpeg|thumb|right|alt=A Thai temple complex with several ornate buildings, and a lot of visitors|[[Wat Phra Kaew]] in the [[Grand Palace]] is among Bangkok's major tourist attractions.]]

Bangkok is one of the world's top tourist destinations. Of 162 cities worldwide, [[MasterCard]] ranked Bangkok as the top destination city by international visitor arrivals in its ''Global Destination Cities Index 2018'', ahead of London, with just over 20&nbsp;million overnight visitors in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big Cities, Big Business: Bangkok, London and Paris Lead the Way in Mastercard's 2018 Global Destination Cities Index|url=https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/big-cities-big-business-bangkok-london-and-paris-lead-the-way-in-mastercards-2018-global-destination-cities-index/|type=Press release|date=25 September 2018|access-date=2018-10-06|archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928121613/https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/big-cities-big-business-bangkok-london-and-paris-lead-the-way-in-mastercards-2018-global-destination-cities-index/}}</ref> This was a repeat of its 2017 ranking (for 2016).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mastercard.com/asia-pacific/press-releases/bangkok-claims-title-as-worlds-most-visited-city-2016-mastercard-global-destination-cities-index/|title=Bangkok Claims Title as World's Most Visited City: 2016 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index|website=Mastercard|date=2016-09-22|type=Press release|access-date=28 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202041830/http://newsroom.mastercard.com/asia-pacific/press-releases/bangkok-claims-title-as-worlds-most-visited-city-2016-mastercard-global-destination-cities-index/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Defining What Makes a City a Destination (2017 Destination Index) |url=https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/defining-what-makes-a-city-a-destination/ |access-date=6 October 2018 |website=MasterCard |date=2017-09-26 |type=Press release |archive-date=10 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810112352/https://newsroom.mastercard.com/press-releases/defining-what-makes-a-city-a-destination/ }}</ref> Euromonitor International ranked Bangkok fourth in its Top City Destinations Ranking for 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.euromonitor.com/2016/01/top-100-city-destinations-ranking-2016.html|title=Top 100 Cities Destination Ranking|date=21 January 2013|publisher=Euromonitor International|access-date=6 June 2013|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131000732/http://blog.euromonitor.com/2016/01/top-100-city-destinations-ranking-2016.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bangkok was also named "World's Best City" by ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'' magazine's survey of its readers for four consecutive years, from 2010 to 2013.<ref name="best cities 2013">{{cite web|title=2013 World's Best Cities|url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2013/cities|website=Travel + Leisure|publisher=American Express Publishing Corporation|access-date=31 July 2013|archive-date=6 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106025516/http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2013/cities|url-status=live}}</ref>
As the main gateway through which visitors arrive in Thailand, Bangkok is visited by the majority of international tourists to the country. Domestic tourism is also prominent. The Department of Tourism recorded 26,861,095 Thai and 11,361,808 foreign visitors to Bangkok in 2010. Lodgings were made by 15,031,244 guests, who occupied 49.9 per cent of the city's 86,687 hotel rooms.<ref name="internal tourism">{{cite web|url=http://www.tourism.go.th/2010/upload/filecenter/file/stat_2554/Sep/Update53%20on%206sep/bangkok.pdf |title=Internal tourism in Bangkok |publisher=Department of Tourism |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207064853/http://www.tourism.go.th/2010/upload/filecenter/file/stat_2554/Sep/Update53%20on%206sep/bangkok.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2013 }}</ref> Bangkok also topped the list as the world's most popular tourist destinations in 2017 rankings.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2017/09/26/bangkok-named-most-popular-city-for-international-tourists-in-2017/#6fc3021725a2|title=Bangkok Named Most Popular City For International Tourists in 2017|date=26 September 2017|access-date=2 October 2017|author=Talty, Alexandra|magazine=Forbes|archive-date=28 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728235541/http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2017/09/26/bangkok-named-most-popular-city-for-international-tourists-in-2017/#6fc3021725a2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://qz.com/1086848/bangkok-london-and-paris-are-the-most-popular-tourist-destinations-in-the-world/|title=The overwhelming majority of popular tourist destinations are in Asia|author=Hao, Karen|date=26 September 2017|access-date=2 October 2017|work=Quartz|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327103114/https://qz.com/1086848/bangkok-london-and-paris-are-the-most-popular-tourist-destinations-in-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-popular-cities-international-travel-2017-mastercard/index.html|publisher=CNN Travel ([[Cable News Network]])|title=10 most popular cities for international travelers in 2017|author=Hunter, Marnie|date=26 September 2017|access-date=2 October 2017|archive-date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328181917/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-popular-cities-international-travel-2017-mastercard/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-06-03/the-10-most-visited-cities-of-2015-london-bangkok-new-york|title=The ten most visited cities of 2017|author=Morton, Caitlin|website=Conde Nast Traveler|date=26 September 2017|access-date=2 October 2017|archive-date=28 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228034121/https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-06-03/the-10-most-visited-cities-of-2015-london-bangkok-new-york|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, [[Euromonitor International]] ranks Bangkok the top tourism city in the world, welcoming a record 32.4&nbsp;million visitors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=VnExpress |title=Bangkok named world's top tourism city for 2024 – VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/bangkok-named-world-s-top-tourism-city-for-2024-4824916.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208154639/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/bangkok-named-world-s-top-tourism-city-for-2024-4824916.html |archive-date=8 December 2024 |access-date=2024-12-17 |work=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:2016 Bangkok, Dystrykt Phra Nakhon, Ulica Khaosan (08).jpg|thumb|left|alt=|[[Khao San Road]] is lined by budget accommodation, shops and bars catering to tourists.]]

Among Bangkok's well-known sights are the Grand Palace and major Buddhist temples, including [[Wat Phra Kaew]], [[Wat Pho]], and [[Wat Arun]]. The [[Giant Swing]] and [[Erawan Shrine]] demonstrate Hinduism's deep-rooted influence in Thai culture. [[Vimanmek Mansion]] in Dusit Palace is famous as the world's largest teak building, while the [[Jim Thompson House]] provides an example of traditional [[Thai architecture]]. Other major museums include the [[Bangkok National Museum]] and the [[Royal Barge National Museum]]. Cruises and boat trips on the Chao Phraya and the canals of Thonburi offer views of some of the city's traditional architecture and ways of life on the waterfront.<ref>Thavisin et al. (eds) 2006, pp.&nbsp;63–69.</ref>

Shopping venues, many of which are popular with both tourists and locals, range from the shopping centres and department stores concentrated in Siam and Ratchaprasong to the sprawling [[Chatuchak Weekend Market]]. [[Taling Chan Floating Market]] is among the few such markets in Bangkok. Yaowarat is known for its shops as well as street-side food stalls and restaurants, which are also found throughout the city. [[Khao San Road]] has long been famous as a destination for [[backpacker tourism]], with its budget accommodation, shops, and bars attracting visitors from all over the world.

Bangkok has a reputation overseas as a major destination in the [[sex industry]]. Although [[Prostitution in Thailand|prostitution is technically illegal]] and is rarely openly discussed in Thailand, it commonly takes place among massage parlours, saunas, and hourly hotels, serving foreign tourists as well as locals. Bangkok has acquired the nickname "Sin City of Asia" for its level of sex tourism.<ref name="EmmonsEveland2011">{{cite book|last1=Emmons|first1=Ron|last2=Eveland|first2=Jennifer|last3=White|first3=Daniel|title=Frommer's Southeast Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4OnMMOZhn54C&pg=PA79|access-date=8 April 2012|date=28 June 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-00979-6|page=79}}</ref>

Issues often encountered by foreign tourists include scams, overcharging, and dual pricing. In a survey of 616 tourists visiting Thailand, 7.79 per cent reported encountering a scam, the most common of which was the [[gem scam]], in which tourists are tricked into buying overpriced jewellery.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Robert W. |last=Howard|title=Risky business? Asking tourists what hazards they encountered in Thailand|journal=Tourism Management|volume=30|issue=3|date=June 2009|pages=359–365|doi=10.1016/j.tourman.2008.08.007}}</ref>

{{Gallery|title=Among Bangkok's well-known sights|width=200|height=200|align=center
| File:(2020)_วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม_เขตพระนคร_กรุงเทพมหานคร_(8).jpg|[[Grand Palace]]
| File:Giant swing - Sao Chingcha crop 2013-05-20.jpg|The [[Giant Swing]]
| File:Wat_Arun_8.jpg|[[Wat Arun]]
}}