the world’s largest exporter of rice
the world’s largest rubber producer and exporter
I thought they'd lost those mantles a long time ago to India and Malaysia respectively and I'm not too sure about the shrimp or tinned pineapple. Just have a check if you can Chak!
Go Blackpool!!
#51, Chief, I would say that the south will be doing more okay than other areas if all the tourists were to suddenly disappear. The islands might be hard hit but they can fall back to rubber and fishing. The people most hit there will be those resort investors from BKK and girls from up north.
I think geographical-wise the south has more potential to be industrialised and be an exporter of consumer goods, just that the Thais are seeking easier and cheaper means of revenue from its islands instead of investing in deep harbours and ports; and latex related industries.
Anachak, they are agriculture produce, and pineapples, rice, and coconuts have limited markets, and cannot be hugely expanded to absorb any fallout if the tourism industry dies. While Thailand has more rubber trees than the malay peninsular (which has more palms than rubber now), its southern neighbour is the number one exporter of surgical gloves in the world. The fact still remains that Thailand has the biggest tourism industry in the region and is heavily reliant on it.
nya I think you missed my point
if Thailand lost its overseas revenue it could easily survive without subsistance and has an infrastructure that can ensure self sufficiency.
meanwhile in the UK we will be selling cut price loans and insurances to alay starvation - oh wait! we already done that....
anachack, I don't think I missed your point and my post in #58 was to rebut that Thailand could not "easily survive" without its tourism industry. They have not invested much in other industries (like aquaculture) and infrastructure (yes, it has good roads for the tourist buses, but other than this...). Without tourism, it might even be poorer than the Philippines...
The 5-6 percent bandied about is just stats. Does it include the hidden, undeclared revenues from the sex trade? It is (a major) part of its tourism industry. The existence of it is very telling on alternate means of revenue.
Are you guys serious???
Agriculture and tourism?
What about
Thailand's MAIN industries????
have you no idea??
OK Mainwaring. If Agriculture isn't Thailand's main industry what is?
I have a feeling this is going to be bizarre!
I'm not even going to edit the above but rephrase this.
If Tourism and Agriculture aren't among Thailand's main industries what are they?
I'm looking forward to this!
Those paper mills, cardboard makers, car cushions and plastic parts? If they are major players and employers and everyone enough to eat, red shirts wouldn't be rioting in BKK.
Don't just look at the industries in terms of revenue share, but in terms of labour force as well... from wiki: In 2007 industry (and manufacturing) contributed 43.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) but employed only 14% of the workforce.