Chumphon Province

Chumphon
ชุมพร
Province

Typhoon damage in Chumphon province

Seal

Map of Thailand highlighting Chumphon Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Chumphon
Government
 • Governor Narong Phonla-iat (since October 2016)
Area
 • Total 6,009.0 km2 (2,320.1 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 38th
Population (2014)
 • Total 498,294[1]
 • Rank Ranked 57th
 • Density 74/km2 (190/sq mi)
 • Density rank Ranked 59th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-86

Chumphon (Thai: ชุมพร, pronounced [t͡ɕʰūm.pʰɔ̄ːn]) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand on the Gulf of Thailand.[2] Neighboring provinces are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, and Ranong. To the west it also borders the Burmese province of Tanintharyi.

Geography

Chumphon is on the Isthmus of Kra, the narrow landbridge connecting the Malay Peninsula with the mainland of Thailand. To the west are the hills of the Phuket mountain range and its northern continuation, the Tenasserim Hills, while the east is the more flat land on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. The main river is the Lang Suan River, which originates in Phato District. With a 222 kilometre-long coastline and 44 islands, the Chumphon Archipelago, Chumphon has waterfalls, peaceful beaches, green forests, mangroves, and rivers.[3]

History

The southern part of the province was originally a separate province named Lang Suan. It was incorporated into Chumphon in 1932.[4]

In November 1989 typhoon Gay hit the province hard. 529 people were killed, 160,000 became homeless, 7,130 km2 (2,753 sq mi) of farm land was destroyed. Gay is the only tropical storm on record which reached Thailand with typhoon wind strength.

Today, Chumphon Province is a destination center for massive human trafficking of Rohingyas from nearby Burma (Myanmar).[5][6]

Etymology

There are two different theories on the origin of the name Chumphon. According to one, it originates from Chumnumporn (lit., accumulation of forces) which derives from the fact that Chumphon was a frontier city. Another theory claims the name derives from a local tree named Maduea Chumphon (มะเดื่อชุมพร, Ficus glomerata), found abundant in the province.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a fortune-bringing thevada on a lotus-pedestal, flanked by two ficus trees. In the background a fort and two watchtowers are visible, a reference to the former camp where courageous warriors from the province gathered before going into battle against the enemy.[7]

The provincial flower is the Indian shot (Canna indica), and the finger banana is another provincial symbol.

Administrative divisions

Chumphon is divided into eight districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 70 sub-districts (tambon) and 674 villages (muban). Chumphon and Lang Suan are the two towns (thesaban mueang), there are a further 12 sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambon).

  1. Mueang Chumphon
  2. Tha Sae
  3. Pathio
  4. Lang Suan
  1. Lamae
  2. Phato
  3. Sawi
  4. Thung Tako

Economy

The coffee-growing valley of Ban Panwal in Tha Sae District includes 178,283 rai of robusta coffee plantations. It produces more than 24 million tonnes a year. Chumphon Province contributes 60 percent of Thailand's total coffee production. Local brands include Thamsing, ST Chumphon and Khao Tha-Lu Chumporn.[3]

Tourism

In the first 11 months of 2015, Chumphon arrivals grew by 17 percent to 1.86 million and tourism revenue by 21 percent to 7.55 billion baht. Average hotel occupancy rose to 65 percent from 53 percent in 2014. Arrivals are expected to grow by 17 percent in 2016.[3]

Transport Air Chumphon Airport is 30 km north of Chumphon city in Pathio District. It has direct daily flights to Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Flights from Bangkok are around 60 minutes.

Nok Air operates two daily flights between Bangkok (Don Mueang, DMK) and Chumphon Airport (CJM).[8] The airport has transit agents for onward travel to Chumphon and the islands of the Gulf of Thailand including Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Samui.

References

  1. ↑ "Population of the Kingdom" (PDF). Department of Provincial Affairs (DOPA) Thailand (in Thai). 2014-12-31. Retrieved 19 Mar 2015.
  2. ↑ "Chumphon". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Chinmaneevong, Chadamas (2016-01-27). "Unpretentious beauty". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  4. ↑ พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ ยุบรวมท้องที่บางมณฑลและบางจังหวัด (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 48 (0 ก): 576–578. February 21, 1932.
  5. ↑ Thailand Human Trafficking Datasheet, http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/slavery/docs/Thailand-UNIAP-datasheet_2010.pdf
  6. ↑ "Putrajaya's migrant deluge woes", The Star, Kuala Lumpur, 13 May 2015, http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/05/13/Putrajayas-migrant-deluge-woes-Emergency-meetings-held-to-find-solutions/
  7. ↑ "Chumphon". THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "(CJM) Chumphon Airport Overview". FlightStats. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chumphon.


  Tanintharyi Region,  Myanmar Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
Ranong Province Gulf of Thailand
   Chumphon Province  
Surat Thani Province


Coordinates: 10°29′34″N 99°10′45″E / 10.49278°N 99.17917°E / 10.49278; 99.17917

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