Chapter 2 gives a general view of the evolution of the Thai manufacturing sector. Chapter 3 describes the structure and development of the clothing and textile industry and government intervention, analysing protection policies as well as the effective rates of assistance (ERA) in the industry. Chapter 4 and 5 deal with MFA issues. Chapter 6 examines the exports of the Thai clothing sector in comparing its exports to Hong Kong. Chapter 7 presents a world clothing trade model to evaluate the welfare effects of the MFA on Thailand and to predict the future of Thai exports under different scenarios. Chapter 8 summarizes the conclusions

This book explores contemporary practices within the new institution of international meditation centers in Thailand. It discusses the development of the lay vipassana meditation movement in Thailand and relates Thai Buddhism to contemporary processes of commodification and globalisation. Through an examination of how meditation centers are promoted internationally, the author considers how Thai Buddhism is translated for and embodied within international tourists who participate in meditation retreats in Thailand. Shedding new light on the decontextualization of religious practices, and raising new questions concerning tourism and religion, this book focuses on the nature of cultural exchange, spiritual tourism, and religious choice in modernity. With an aim of reframing questions of religious modernity, each chapter offers a new perspective on the phenomenon of spiritual seeking in Thailand. Offering an analysis of why meditation practices appeal to non-Buddhists, this book contends that religions do not travel as whole entities but instead that partial elements resonate with different cultures, and are appropriated over time.

Millions of Burmese women migrate into Thailand each year to form the basis of the Thai agricultural and manufacturing workforce. Un-documented and unregulated, this army of migrant workers constitutes the ultimate 'disposable' labour force, enduring gruelling working conditions and much aggression from the Thai police and immigration authorities. This insightful book ventures into a part of the global economy rarely witnessed by Western observers. Based on unique empirical research, it provides the reader with a gendered account of the role of women migrant workers in Thailand's factories and interrogates the ways in which they manage their families and their futures.

Now available in PDF format. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Thailand's Beaches and Islands is your ideal companion for exploring this diverse and fascinating part of the world. Thailand's glorious beaches stretch over 2,000 miles of coastline, proving irresistible to lovers of beach-life and ocean sports. Whether you're seeking a secluded getaway or the hottest party destinations, you'll find insider tips and reviews for best hotels, restaurants and bars, shopping and entertainment, beaches, markets, and festivals. Your options are listed area by area and include recommendations for all budgets. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Thailand's Beaches and Islands also provides in-depth information on this region's breathtaking geographic diversity and rich cultural heritage. All of Thailand's extensive coastline is covered in this updated guide, from the Eastern Seaboard to Bangkok, the Upper and Lower Western Gulf coasts, the Deep South, and the Upper and Lower Andeman Coasts. You won't miss a thing on your vacation with the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Thailand's Beaches and Islands.

This is a guide to the twenty longest and twenty deepest caves in Thailand. For each cave full location and access information, passage descriptions and surveys are provided.

The fully updated, full-colour Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches & Islands is the perfect companion for island-hopping through Thailand's spectacular coastal regions. Whether you want to kayak through the limestone karsts of Ao Phang Nga, explore the dive sites around Ko Tao, party on Phuket or relax on one of Ko Samui's idyllic beaches, this guide will lead you straight to the region's best attractions. It offers a thorough coverage of Bangkok, Thailand's fascinating capital, the guide features an expert breakdown of the country's amazing diving and snorkelling sites. You'll find up-to-date reviews on all the hottest places to stay from ultra-chic hotels to eco-minded accommodation and local Thai homestays, as well as recommendations of Thailand's best nightlife, shopping and restaurants for all budgets. Explore all the corners of Thailand's beaches and islands with superb, full-colour maps and pictures, and authoritative background on everything from Buddhism and Thailand's history and environment to the best books on the country and practical language tips. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Thailand's Beaches & Islands. Now available in ePub format.

Since 2004, Thailand’s southern border provinces have been plagued by violence. There are a wide array of explanations for this violence, from the revival of Malay nationalist movements and the influence from the global trend of radical Islam, to the power play among the regional underground crime syndicates, politicians, and state authorities. The disparate interpretations signal the dynamic and complex discursive contention of this damaging and enduring conflict, and this book looks at how this is played out in the Thai media, and with what possible consequences. In analysing the southern conflict coverage, the book presents the deficiencies in news coverage, as produced by four news organisations of different natures across a seven-year review period, and discusses the professional practices that hinder journalism from serving as a fair arena for healthy and rational democratic debates. Based on in-depth interviews with news workers, it argues that Thai journalism is not always monolithic and static, as shown in the discursive shifts in news content, the variations of journalistic practices and news workers’ disparate stances on the conflict. The book goes on to highlight the less immediately apparent difficulties of political conflict reporting, such as the subtle patterns of intimidation and media manipulation, as well as the challenges of countering socially-prevailing hegemonic beliefs in Thai society. Exploring the political contingencies and socio-cultural influences at play, this book provides an in-depth study of journalism’s role in politics in Thailand, and is of interest to students and scholars of Southeast Asian Politics, Media Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies.