The South
is rich in a number of important mineral resources including
tin (the most important one), monazite (a phosphate of cerium
and lanthanum, the principal ore of thorium), barite, lignite
(brown coal) and gypsum.
Fishing
is a major occupation of the South because of the close proximity
to the sea on both sides. Fish farming along the seashore, particularly
shrimp farming, has grown rapidly in recent years and offers
good prospects for long-term development.
The economic
structure of the South is mainly based on the agricultural
sector, whose production depends on fishing and a few important
economic crops such as rubber, rice, coconuts, coffee, and palm
oil.
As the southern
region is also extremely well-endowed with beautiful natural attractions,
tourism related industries are a major activity.
According
to the Thai Board of Investments, existing infrastructure facilities
to cater for industrial and urban development are adequate and
well maintained. As far as air transport is concerned, there are
two international airports at Phuket and Hat
Yai and two deep sea ports at Songkhla and Phuket.
The government
has launched the Southern Seaboard Development Program
which will essentially involve the construction of a land bridge
joining the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea between Khanom
and Krabi. The land bridge south of Surat Thani that will
connect the two ports will consist of a highway, a railway, and
a crude oil pipeline, cutting some 800km (500mi) of the route
for cargoes at present shipped through the crowded Straits of
Malacca.
The plan calls
for the construction of oil refineries and storage facilities
at Krabi and a natural gas petrochemical complex and container
repacking facilities at Khanom. Tankers from the Middle
East will be able to unload crude oil at Krabi for refining, or
piping overland to the Gulf of Thailand for further shipment on
connecting vessels to the Far East.
Essentially,
the program is an infrastructure-led development based on the
provision of key facilities and the utilization of key
resources such as agricultural raw materials and minerals,
combined with the concurrent development of natural gas-related
upstream and downstream industries.
Carrefour in Hatyai
Additional
information on South Thailand:
The
Region
Regional Division
Landscape
Cha-am
Hua Hin
Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Ranong
Phang Nga
Phang Nga Bay National Park
Phuket
Krabi
Phi Phi Islands
Ko Samui
Ang Thong Marine National Park
