Thailand is a large nation in South East Asia, with almost 70 million inhabitants. Worldwide known for its marine resorts, it also offers important cultural aspects and natural habitats that deserve to be discovered. The extraordinary variety of its natural attractions includes pristine islands and beaches, mountains and lush hills, tropical forests, rivers and waterfalls, many of which are protected areas or belong to a national park. There are more than 100 national parks throughout the country, and some of them are Unesco Heritage, as well as the historic park of Sukothai, the ancient capital founded by the Thais in the 10th century. The Thais belonged to a population of southern China and occupied the present territory of Thailand fighting against the Burmese, Khmer and Shan. Thailand presents all the natural, cultural and ethnic ingredients to give a sustainable tourism experience to its visitors and has focused tourism development on its communities. THE CBT Thailand (Community-Based Tourism Development) and DASTA (Thailand's Sustainable Tourism Management Standard) are two important tools that have enabled the Government of Thailand to optimize the management of its resources, supporting local communities, preserving ancient traditions and respecting its biodiversity.
