The Office of the National Economic and Social Development have released data ranking Thailand’s 77 provinces according to their poverty rates.
Phuket clocked in as the richest province in the Kingdom, with an admirably low poverty rate of just 6.1 percent, according to Coconuts. This is especially impressive given the national average of 34.8 percent.
Bangkok came in third place, behind Samutsakorn, followed by Nonthaburi and Chonburi.
Bangkokians still enjoy the country’s highest average income, however, pulling in ฿49,191 per month. Average national monthly income is just ฿25,194.
As a magnet for tourism, Phuket is reasonably well developed in comparison to much of Thailand with a slew of luxury hotels and real estate offering plentiful job opportunities for locals.
The island has developed into something of a yachting hub in the last few years with the emergence of the Royal Phuket Marina – Thailand’s only 5-star Gold Anchor winning marina.
“I have been sailing in Phuket’s waters for many years and the cruising-grounds are truly world-class. Phuket has now become the Asian Riviera. My vision for Phuket remains unchanged: to help develop the best yachting and marine infrastructure, and encourage quality visitors to come and enjoy the beauty of the island,” commented Gulu Lalvani, chairman of the Royal Phuket Marina.
It’s not only sailors attracted to Phuket’s white sand shores; Thai AirAsia have just launched a new low-cost route between Phuket and Wuhan in central China, reports the Bangkok Post.
Flights take off from 1 February and are expected to attract high traffic from Chinese tourists.
At the other end of the poverty scale to Phuket is Mae Hong Sorn where the poverty rate is as high as 65.2 percent and average household income just ฿8,821 per month.
Featured image is by Andy Mitchell and used under a Creative Commons licence
