Last updated on January 27, 2019
Krabi is a town located in southern Thailand on the west coast. Krabi is the capital of Krabi province & district. Tourism is the most important economic activity in Krabi. According to the latest estimates, the town’s population stood at approximately 25,000 people. Krabi covers the Tambon & Krabi Yai of the Krabi district. The town is subdivided into 10 communities.
History
Krabi dates back to the start of the Bangkok or Rattanakosin period in the 18th century when Bangkok became Thailand’s capital. During this period Chao Phraya Nakorn (the Nakhon Si Thammarat governor at the time) had an elephant Kraal established in Krabi marking the birth of the town.
Chao Phraya sent his vizier to oversee the task which was meant to make sure there was a regular supply of elephants in Krabi and nearby towns. Very many people followed Chao Phraya’s vizier. Within no time, Krabi had become a large community with 3 different boroughs namely; Khlong Pon, Pakasai and Pak Lao.
In 1872, the boroughs were elevated to town status by King Chulalongkorn and collectively renamed Krabi. Luang Thep Sena was Krabi’s first governor. It is however important to note that Krabi remained dependent on Nakhon Si Thammarat for a while. This, however, changed in 1875 when Krabi became a 4th level town under the old governance system in Thailand.
Tourism
As mentioned above, tourism is the main economic activity in Krabi. This can be attributed to the fact that Krabi is home to very many tourist attractions i.e. several national parks. Some of the most popular national parks in Krabi include; the Hat Noppharat Thara, Railay, Ko Phi Phi and Ao Nang national parks
Other notable tourist attractions in Krabi are the islets near the town. There are over 80 islets near Krabi. Some of the most popular islets near Krabi include; Lanta islands, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta islands. These small islands are popular among yachtsmen, adventurers, snorkelers, scuba-divers as well as day-trippers.
Krabi’s facilities/amenities also favor tourism. For instance, the town has an international hospital as well as an airport; Krabi International airport which allows a tourist unmatched convenience. Tourists can fly directly to Krabi from countless destinations worldwide. This makes Krabi more attractive for tourists compared to many other similar towns which lack airports.
The idyllic beach life in Krabi also attracts tourists. Koh Samui and Phuket used to offer the same idyllic beach life ten years ago, however, this is no longer the case because of population pressure. This is precisely why tourists interested in the idyllic beach life today prefer Krabi. The town is also a tourist attraction because it cares for international residents better.
For instance, Krabi has streamlined its immigration services. Local government offices are also packed with English speaking staff. Krabi also has plenty of entertainment/accommodation options for tourists from world class hotels and private villas to local events and festivals. There are also plenty of activities for tourists to engage in i.e. bird watching, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling. Nothing more needs to be said. Krabi definitely stands out as one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations.
Travel to Krabi’s Islands and Samui Island
There are many beautiful islands in the Krabi Province. Many tourists also like to travel to the famous and the beautiful Samui Island, which requires traveling by land and ferry. You can buy tickets and more information about traveling to Samui online at http://www.ferrysamui.com.
John Chen is a travel writer currently located in Bangkok, Thailand. He likes writing about Thailand and he writes not only about traveling in Thailand, but also about business, culture, economy, education and food.
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