Editing Thailand (section)

=== Tourism ===
{{Further|Tourism in Thailand}}
[[File:0000140 - Wat Arun Ratchawararam 005.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Wat Arun]], [[Bangkok]], is among the best-known Thailand's landmarks.]]Tourism makes up about 6% of the country's economy. Prior to the pandemic, Thailand was the world's eighth most visited country according to the [[World Tourism rankings]] compiled by the [[United Nations World Tourism Organization|United Nations World Tourism Organisation]]. In 2019, Thailand received 39.8 million international tourists, ahead of [[United Kingdom]] and [[Germany]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=18 December 2020 |title=UNWTO World Tourism Barometer and Statistical Annex, December 2020 {{!}} World Tourism Organization |journal=UNWTO World Tourism Barometer (English Version) |volume=18 |issue=7 |pages=1–36 |doi=10.18111/wtobarometereng.2020.18.1.7 |s2cid=241989515 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and was the fourth highest in international tourism earning 60.5 billion [[US dollars]].

Thailand was the most visited country in Southeast Asia in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organisation. Estimates of tourism receipts directly contributing to the Thai GDP of 12 trillion baht range from 9 per cent (1 trillion baht) (2013) to 16 per cent.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2015 |title=Government moves to head off tourist fears |work=Bangkok Post |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/666028/government-moves-to-head-off-tourist-fears |access-date=24 August 2015}}</ref> When including the indirect effects of tourism, it is said to account for 20.2 per cent (2.4 trillion baht) of Thailand's GDP.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic%20impact%20research/country%20reports/thailand2014.pdf |title=Travel and Tourism, Economic Impact 2014: Thailand |date=2014 |publisher=World Travel & Tourism Council |edition=2014 |location=London |access-date=10 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319212933/http://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic%20impact%20research/country%20reports/thailand2014.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{RP|1}}

Asian tourists primarily visit Thailand for Bangkok and the historical, natural, and cultural sights in its vicinity. Western tourists not only visit Bangkok and surrounding areas; many travel to the southern beaches and islands. The north is the chief destination for trekking and [[adventure travel]] with its diverse ethnic minority groups and forested mountains. The region hosting the fewest tourists is [[Isan]]. To accommodate foreign visitors, a separate tourism police with offices were set up in the major tourist areas and an emergency telephone number.<ref>[http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Police.html Tourist Police in Thailand] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703161503/http://www.amazing-thailand.com/Police.html |date=3 July 2008 }}. Amazing-Thailand.com. Retrieved 16 September 2010.</ref>

Thailand ranks as the worlds fifth largest [[medical tourism]] destination in spending, according to the [[World Travel and Tourism Council]], attracting over 2.5 million visitors in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical Tourism in Thailand |url=https://www.mymeditravel.com/guide/medical-tourism-in-thailand |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141716/https://www.mymeditravel.com/guide/medical-tourism-in-thailand |archive-date=18 February 2019 |access-date=17 February 2019 |publisher=MyMediTravel}}</ref> and is number one in Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical Tourism Report |url=https://wttc.org/en-gb/Research/Insights |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516071216/https://wttc.org/en-gb/Research/Insights |archive-date=16 May 2020 |access-date=15 May 2020 |publisher=WTTC}}</ref> The country is popular for the growing practice of [[sex reassignment surgery]] (SRS) and cosmetic surgery. In 2010–2012, more than 90% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand for SRS.<ref>Chokrungvaranont, Prayuth, Gennaro Selvaggi, Sirachai Jindarak, Apichai Angspatt, Pornthep Pungrasmi, Poonpismai Suwajo, and Preecha Tiewtranon. "The Development of Sex Reassignment Surgery in Thailand: A Social Perspective". ''The Scientific World Journal''. Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2014. Web. 23 March 2017.</ref> [[Prostitution in Thailand]] and sex tourism also form a ''de facto'' part of the economy. Campaigns promote Thailand as exotic to attract tourists.<ref>Ocha, Witchayanee. "Transsexual emergence: gender variant identities in Thailand". ''Culture, Health & Sexuality''14.5 (2012): 563–575. Web.</ref> One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at US$4.3 billion per year or about 3% of the Thai economy.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/26/1069825832486.html?oneclick=true Thailand mulls legal prostitution.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131217/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/26/1069825832486.html?oneclick=true |date=29 September 2007 }} ''[[The Age]]'', 26 November 2003</ref> It is believed that at least 10% of tourist dollars are spent on the sex trade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Lorna |date=25 January 2006 |title=Paradise Revealed |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2006/01/25/2003290710/4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202022539/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2006/01/25/2003290710/4 |archive-date=2 December 2014 |access-date=29 January 2015 |website=Taipei Times}}</ref>