| "> | | | | and the economic hit to tourism. Nearly a quarter |
| Thailand is a nation that is predominantly | | | | of a million people (current figures estimate |
| dependent on tourism and foreign export. Over | | | | 230,000) across eleven countries lost their lives in |
| the years this country has made itself a premier | | | | the wake of that natural mega-disaster. Let us sit |
| vacation destination for budget-conscious | | | | down and try and comprehend that number: |
| travelers. Pristine, amazing beaches, a fascinating | | | | 230,000 people. For many in the Western world, |
| local culture, centuries of tradition, and bustling | | | | this was merely a news blip, something that |
| crowded cities have all contributed to | | | | faded from memory after a month or so. Yet a |
| Thailandâs allure. | | | | certain ship that sank in 1912 after hitting an |
| The consequences of the 2004 Indian Ocean | | | | iceberg caused the deaths of 1517 people, and |
| earthquake and resultant tsunami were | | | | this particular disaster is exponentially more |
| devastating and catastrophic to the Kingdom of | | | | memorable in the minds of most American |
| Thailand, in terms of the sheer loss of human life, | | | | teenagers. |