Aspekte der Stadtentwicklung in den fünf südlichsten Provinzen Thailands

Abstract

In the country's long-term regional planning the South of Tahiland plays prominent role in so far as the old Southern harbour places with their traditional commercial connections with Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia are in an advantageous position. This article analyzes some main trends of urban development in the five southmost provinces of Thailand. The policy of decentralization with respect to the economic, political, and social fields has first successes, but the peripheral situation together with the special ethno-cultural structures represent impediments to the integrational endeavours. With regard to urban settlements negative phenomina in the form of concentration effects are already being felt. In Hat Yai, f.i., over-proportional population growth leads to housing shortage, slums and the related social problems. Medium-scale and small cities have to be integrated into the urban development programmes in order to reduce the migration into the large centres. Closely connected with development programmes for the cities is the promotion of economic activities in the rural regions which is already being tested in the form of numerous small projects aiming at the diversification of handicraft and the expansion of agricultural production. (Red.)