There are many things that attract large numbers of people from all over the world to Thailand, making it a leading tourist centre in this part of the world. Among the main attractions are its great varieties of valuable products that can be bought at favourable prices. To give you an idea of what are the really good buys in this country and where to buy them, here is a brief description of some of the products.
OTOP Products
These are high-quality hand-made goods and folk handicrafts under the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) Project. The products range widely from food to consumer goods and decorative objects.
Where to buy: OTOP products are available at most souvenirs shops, shopping plazas and department stores nationwide. The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has established two medium size outlets in Bangkok and Chiang Mai to display the products, which have been developed to meet world market standards and provide business convenience between local craftsmen and foreign traders.
Thai Handicrafts
Thai HandicraftsThere are several other kinds of handicrafts that are of artistic value, such as pearls, dolls, brassware, bronzeware and artificial flowers, and adorable Thai-style gifts such as mulberry paper products, candle products, and aroma incense box sets. All of these you can conveniently obtain from large department stores, shopping plazas or in the shopping areas in tourist cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya, where you will find that there are just too many good things to buy and you may be at a loss how to make a choice.
Ceramics & Pottery
Of the various styles of Thai ceramics, Sangkhalok stoneware (the bluish green celadon) and Bencharong porcelain (the five-coloured porcelain) are the most desirable among both Thai and foreign collectors.
Most of the pottery and ceramic items being sold today are reproductions of traditional styles. The products come in various forms, for example, vases, lamp bases, dinner sets, tea sets and souvenir articles. There are a good number of celadon factories in some northern provinces, especially in Chiang Mai.
According to the export growth of ceramics, many communities all over Thailand have produced and develooped ceramics in their own styles.
Where to buy: Big department stores and shopping plazas, ceramics & pottery shops and centres in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and other provinces.