Economic Development Policies and Land Use Changes in Thailand: From the Eastern Seaboard to the Eastern Economic Corridor

The Thai government’s project called “Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)” was announced in 2016 to stimulate economic development and help the country escape from middle-income trap. provides investment incentives for private sector infrastructure of land, rail, water, air transportation. EEC encompasses three provinces eastern region Thailand because their strategic locations near deep seaports natural resources Gulf Thailand. Clearly, this policy will lead dramatic changes land uses livelihoods people these provinces. However, extent which use occur remains unclear. This study aims analyze using a Cellular Automata–Markov model. results show that coastal areas have become more urbanized than inland areas, are primarily agricultural lands. predicted suggest shrinking lands paddy fields, field crops, horticulture but expanding perennial These highlight challenges urban administration management as well threats Thailand’s cultures future.