Phuket. In the last few years, the island in the Andaman Sea has come in fashion, particularly, as a place where people buy real estate for winter family vacation. The reason is that the island, like all Thailand, is located in tropical latitudes, where the winter is the best season.

Generally speaking, the Russians do not consider Thailand as an exotic direction any more. Many people have been there. They have visited crocodile farms, bought local pearls and experienced legendary Thai massage. Nevertheless, Russian tourism was not considered as popular. Just look at the figures: about 100,000-150,000 our fellow country-men visit the country in the high season, while citizens of Switzerland are 5 times as much, French – 3 times and Englishmen – 8 times. Moreover, what about Japanese visitors, their number has risen to above a million.

Nevertheless, the Thais believe that the Russian market is on of the most promising. Since 1999 touristiс flow doubles every year and last year it grew bigger by half. Besides, our fellow countrymen differ not by quantity but quality. Being in Thailand, they spend daily about $120 per person. They are third only after Americans ($155) and Japanese ($143). European are far behind us.

However, there are many different resorts in Thailand. Unlike noisy and democratic Pattaya, that many travelers visit only to relax in the fleshpots, the islands here traditionally attract more demanding and sophisticated tourists. The purest beaches, untouched nature, marvelous diving – these are peculiarities of the islands Phuket, Samui and Phi-Phi while Pattaya is noisy and not very clean, being situated inland 145 km from Bangkok. Phuket is the biggest island of Thailand and differs from other island by its sprawling infrastructure

An international airport, some high-grade hospitals, the Britain School and colleges for foreigner residents are there on the island. Local hotel chains have been completely driven out by the largest international hoteliers (Sheraton, Shangri La, Hilton, Best Western and others). There are many golf courses that are considered to be high-grade samples for international competitions. Riding clubs, three chic yacht clubs, many shopping centers with all famous brands from all over the world, entertainment centers and so on. It is worth mentioning that in recent years authorities have been steadfastly trying to make Phuket a luxury resort to attract the most payable and sophisticated audience. The island has been equipped with fiber optic lines for internet and telephone connection. It is planned to put into operation third generation cellular networks. Many different companies producing automobiles have opened their missions here and local roads can be compared with the best European samples.

Next year, a new construction mega-project priced at about 3 billions dollars will start on the island. The construction will take place on artificially drained land of 4800 ha. A business and tourists parts of the project will consist of a conference center (40,000 sq. m.) for 15,000 persons; two exhibit areas (60,000 and 30,000 sq. m.); a business center (40,000 sq. m.) for 100 offices; a six stars hotel complex for 1,000 rooms, a trade center (60,000 sq. m.) as well as restaurants, movie theaters and other objects. Here also will be situated a round port (more than 100 ha) with berthing facilities for super yachts, hundreds of docks for tide-boats, repair facilities for their maintenance, a retail center and a commercial center as well as residential apartments and blocks of condominiums. 

Phuket is having a time of building boom now and a large proportion of developed property is designed for foreigners. These are high-grade condominiums, villas and townhouses sometimes built together with 4 and 5 stars hotels. Many wealthy people from Asia and the Pacific reside in Phuket without even leaving it for the rainy season (from June till September). Telecommunications allow to manage business and to work with information remotely. So many businessmen gladly “escape” their offices in metropolises such as Singapore, Hong-Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo and go there.
 
European residents often buy housing in order to wait out cold weather, to send children for vacations, to reinstate thereby spending reasonable money. Fresh food, high-grade health service, SPA – all this is much cheaper than in any of European or American resort. The same thing is with real estate. If a house in Europe or America costs about $ 3,000,000 – 5,000,000 contrariwise a Sea villa with a swimming pool in Phuket is half or thrice as much.  

An apartment in a new condominium with local service and possibility of management during your absence (rent, maintenance) costs about $150,000 – 500,000 depending on comfort level. West Coast of the island is the most developed part. It is a place where a famous resort zone, Patong, is located. Its land has become more expensive of almost 500 percent and costs from $800 per square meter.

Extremely expensive lands are in the main city of the island, Phuket-town (sometimes the price reaches $500 per sq. m), but foreigner buyer are not so interested in the Capital. The administrative center with all its establishments – an international school, offices and authorities – is in the heart of the island, far from beaches, but is within reach by car. Pioneers of Phuket, Australians and Americans, practiced an independent search of lands and sequential construction about ten years ago.

At present, foreigners buy real estate from large development companies, moreover on the level of projects, when property development has just started. Demand for Phuket, trust to quality and reputation are so strong that many real estate items are sold at show-exhibitions which are exported by Phuket real estate builders into the country of higher-priority. Last year, Russia was included into the list of promising markets. Though there are not so many Russian residents on the island, number of transactions is making progress so fast, that Russian market is even more interesting than the West-European market. 

* The article was prepared with use of materials of third-party authors.