Travel information for this popular Southeast Asian destination is very accessible and the Thai tourism department does a very good job in promoting the country as the West’s getaway of choice.
Thailand is also known as the “Land of Smiles”. The slogan is written in all the travel information guides and brochure and you can actually see it plastered everywhere in country as soon as you land.
Many people believe Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles” because of the friendly, happy-go-lucky and cheerful nature of its people. You can apparently smile at any Thai you pass by while walking on the street and that person will most likely smile back at you.
But there’s actually a much deeper meaning to all this smiling that most outsiders do not know about. Smiling in Thailand is not just a means of expressing friendliness or happiness, but there’s actually a wider range of use for it depending on the situation at hand. Some types of smiles may even be considered as rude in the west.
- See more at: http://www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com/thailand-the-land-of-smiles.html#sthash.SDEUc1z4.dpuf