Empty Asia

The river Ping flowing past Ban Tak

I noticed on my road trip yesterday when we stopped for lunch in the small country town of Ban Tak, whilst small it has been a town for hundreds of years, that in the last 10 years the working age population has been moving to the regional centres, particularly Bangkok for work. Thereby leaving this once active town populated by old women and primary aged school kids.

Like Australia, Thailand's small country towns are losing their banks, doctors and basic government services, reinforcing the need to move to a regional centre or city.