Surat Thani Province - Economy

Economy

In 2008 census, the province was had a GPP about 132,637.3 million Baht (4,019.31 million US$) and GPP per capita was 134,427 (4,073.54 US$). Compare with about 122,398 million Baht (3,599.94 million US$) and GPP per capita was 125,651 (3,695.62 US$) in 2007 census, the GPP was growth by 8.37% and per capita was growth by 6.98%. The main agricultural products of the province are coconut and rambutan. The coconuts are often picked from the tree by specially trained monkey, mostly Pig-tailed Macaques (Macaca nemestrina). The monkey school of late Somporn Saekhow is the most famous training center for these monkeys. The rambutan trees were first planted in Surat Thani in 1926 by the Chinese Malay Mr. K. Vong in Ban Na San. An annual rambutan fair is held in beginning of August, including a parade of highly decorated floats on the Tapi river. Also rubber tree planting are common in the province.

A notable local product is the hand-woven silk clothes from the coastal village Phum Riang in Chaiya district. Chaiya is also the most famous source of the red eggs, a local specialty. Ducks fed are with crabs and fish, and the eggs are then preserved by salinating them in a soil-salt mixture. Oysters from farms at the coast of Kanchanaburi district are another local specialty.

Tourism is a major income at the four islands Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao and Ko Ang Thong