CB Richard Elis Thailand Focus on Asia"s Growing Retirement And Second Home Market

Bangkok, Thailand (PRWEB) July 27, 2007

For the last 30 years South East Asian countries have competed to attract tourists. Today the focus is on quality not just quantity. Part of this strategy is to attract retirement and second home (RSH) purchasers, according to a recent report from CB Richard Ellis Thailand.

RSH purchasers have become major components in the tourism and property markets in Spain, Florida and Australia’s gold coast. The RSH market is growing in South East Asia. Competition between countries is intensifying but significant obstacles still remain in particular foreign ownership of property, availability of property loans for foreigner, and visas.

The benefits of the RSH market are that once a property is purchased, repeat visits by the buyer are guaranteed avoiding the growing competition to attract tourists. The length of stay is longer and more money is spent on local goods and services.

Thailand has been at the forefront of retirement and second home development centred in Phuket and the Andaman coast, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Cha Am, and Koh Samui. Thailand offers an attractive combination of quality of living compared to cost but still has restrictive property ownership rules. Thailand is facing growing competition from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam to attract RSH purchasers.

Malaysia has been the most aggressive country in providing an attractive property ownership, property financing and visa structure. The ‘Malaysia My Second Home Programme’ allows foreign ownership of land with houses, the ability for foreigners to borrow money to fund a property purchase and a ten year visa. In 2006, 8,700 people had successfully applied for the ‘Malaysia My Second Home Programme’.

Singapore as well as developing two integrated resorts with casinos to attract visitors also has Sentosa Cove, a resort development aimed specifically at foreigners. Overseas buyers are permitted to own a 99-year lease for land with houses. This is the only place in Singapore where foreign land ownership is permitted although there is no restriction on foreign ownership of condominium developments. Vietnam allows foreigners 50-year leases.

The RSH market is destined to grow driven not only by expatriates working in Asia, but also by Asian buyers. Thailand has enjoyed huge growth in medical tourism driven by Middle East and South Asian demand for good quality, reasonably priced medical care. These medical tourists could also become RSH purchasers particularly as countries like India look at relaxing controls on investment overseas.

“Thailand faces growing competition to attract RSH purchasers from other countries that can offer an attractive combination of quality and cost of living. This competition means that, in order to succeed, countries will have to offer attractive property ownership, property financing and visa regulations,” according to Mr. James Pitchon, Executive Director at CB Richard Ellis Thailand.

Thailand has introduced a retirement visa and about 12,000 foreigners had successfully applied in the first seven months of 2006.

The RSH market will to continue to grow. The strongest growth will be from Asian buyers. In 2007, the Korean government relaxed conditions for Korean nationals investing in property overseas and CB Richard Ellis has already seen an increase in Korean demand for Thai property. India has also relaxed its conditions for its nationals investing overseas.

As the market becomes more competitive countries will need to examine property ownership and financing restrictions as well as visa policies to fully benefit from the booming RSH market.

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CB Richard Elis Thailand Focus on Asia"s Growing Retirement And Second Home Market

Thailand"s Medical Tourism is Booming - Thailand on its Way to Become Asia"s Medical Hub

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 5, 2009

The Royal Thai Government’s strategy in 2004 for Thailand to become Asia’s medical hub is becoming a reality as Thailand continues to see an increase in medical tourism. With an annual growth rate of 14% for the sector, ahead of the county’s GDP, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) expects to see two million visitors wanting to take advantage of lower medical treatments by 2010.

In 2008 Research and Markets reported that, although Thailand is faced with tough competition from India and Malaysia, Thailand has treated the highest number of international tourists in Asia. High health care costs, overloaded medical facilities and the fact that Thailand provides the most advanced treatments by internationally trained medical staff are reasons why medical tourists are choosing Thailand. “Thailand’s ultra-new and modern hospitals are less than a decade old and feel more like luxury hotels catering to tourists, than places to treat the infirm” (Tourism Authority of Thailand). The cost for health care in Thailand is about one fifth of what you would pay in the United States or Europe, making it more significant that in 2008, foreign patients generated an estimated $ 6 billion USD for Thailand. According to one international medical travel journal, the Royal Thai Government has put together a five-year plan that aims to double this revenue by 2014.

Deloitte Consulting estimated 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for health care services in 2007, a figure that was expected to double last year, with a forecasted global market expansion of more than 20% annually going forward to 2012. Thailand is ready to meet the growing industry by continuously making sure international standards are met and offering a level of hospitality not found in any other medical center around the world at affordable prices.

People are traveling to Thailand for routine maintenance like dental to cosmetic surgery, gastric bypass surgery and heart surgery. Medical tourists can undergo and recover from many non-invasive procedures during a normal two-week holiday in Thailand. A new guidebook Patients Beyond Borders: Thailand Edition released on Monday by Josef Woodman, CEO of Healthy Travel Media, offers an in-depth overview of Thailand’s international hospitals, selected health travel agents, nearby recovery and guest accommodations, spas, and area travel information so that travelers know where to go in Thailand to get their world-class medical treatment.

Thailand’s rapid growth into becoming Asia’s medical hub is also creating great opportunities in related fields. The medical device sector is continuing to see healthy growth to meet the demands of health care facilities for new upgraded medical machinery and devices. Research and development for tropical diseases like malaria and dengue fever are areas also open for further investment. As Thailand’s medical tourism industry continues to grow, its health care industry will flourish as well.

About the Tourism Authority of Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was established in 1960 by the Royal Thai Government to be specifically responsible for tourism promotion. In 1965, TAT opened its first overseas office in New York. Since then, TAT has established 21 offices in different parts of the world including the Los Angeles office. TAT aims to provide the best Thailand traveling information to the public and media members as well as work closely with our travel partners to develop new deals and packages.

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Thailand"s Medical Tourism is Booming - Thailand on its Way to Become Asia"s Medical Hub

Thailand Voted Asia"s Number One particular Travel Location

Chiang Mai, Thailand (PRWEB) Might 2, 2007

A survey performed by Visa International Asia Pacific in conjunction with Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) estimates that 52 percent of travelers were contemplating Asia as their subsequent travel destination. Thailand topped the list as the number one particular location of decision in Asia. Thailand’s regional culture was the main reason cited by much more than 50 percent of respondents.

Blessed with gorgeous beaches, magnificent mountains, and friendly folks, Thailand has been a common location for tourism in Asia for years. With a culture wealthy in classic arts and crafts, visitors there devote a lot of time shopping. It really is essential to know exactly where to discover genuine handicrafts and get the greatest bargains.

Bangkok and Chiang Mai are the centers from which most tourists knowledge the country. Bangkok boasts a massive selection of products from all over Thailand, easily accessible at a quantity of markets and street fairs. Chiang Mai is exactly where a lot of of the products discovered in Bangkok come from, such as a lot of silks, woodcarvings, gifts, home decor, and handmade paper products. Here are the areas to shop — the most well-known, AND the Very best Kept Secrets.

Bangkok

CHATUCHAK WEEKEND Marketplace

Chatuchak Weekend Industry is the undisputed center for getting Thai Handicrafts of all kinds. Now it really is effortlessly accessible by each subway and Sky Train — so when time is restricted, this is the location to go. Mixed in with knock-off jeans and low-cost sneakers are some outstanding Thai products. Ideal Kept Secret? Chatuchak is open on Fridays as “wholesale day”, but all are welcome. Keep away from the weekend crowds and get the greatest bargains.

NARAYANA PHAND THAI HANDICRAFT CENTER

Travelers with a really tight schedule go to the Narayana Phand Thai Handicraft Center located across the street from Central World Shopping Center in Pratunam. Beautifully presented Thai handicrafts from all over the country are sold at fixed prices. Numerous things from Royal Projects sold here support Hill Tribe, disabled and elderly artisans. Best Kept Secret? The basement shops are independent sellers, promoting numerous of the same products as in the major shop at drastically decreased rates.

SILOM ROAD/PATPONG

At night, the financial district of Bangkok becomes a industry packed with every variety of product, legal and illegal. Shoppers who brave the crowds and the touts can find out budding artisans staked out promoting distinctive designs – from delicately carved soap flowers (warning – these fade in the sun!) to hand-produced sandals. Best Kept Secret? Most “Thai Silk” sold on the street is genuinely polyester. Genuine silk catches on the fingers, and the ends of any fringe will have fibers of varying sizes, including quite fine ones.

SUAN LUM NIGHT BAZAAR

The days of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar are numbered. Soon to be replaced by a condominium complex, this treasured shopping expertise is property to all sorts of independent sellers — many of whom design and make their very own home decor designs. It’s just down the road from Lumpini Park, convenient for spending a entire evening dining, shopping and typically getting a pleasant time. Ideal Kept Secret? Next to the Bazaar at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium is a little shop promoting genuine Muay Thai (Thai boxing) paraphernalia — not tourist knock-offs. Do not miss the boxing glove key rings.

Chiang Mai

NIGHT BAZAAR

Like Silom road in Bangkok, the location of Chiang Mai subsequent to the river transforms itself nightly to a street market place providing all sorts of delightful handicrafts. This is the very first location to go in Chiang Mai, because artisans from all over Northern Thailand display their products here. For indoor shopping, there are two large handicraft malls on either side of the main street — Vieng Ping Night Bazaar and Kalare. Very best Kept Secret? Kalare has continuously running cultural shows — and they are totally free.

BAN TAWAI

About twenty minutes from Chiang Mai City by automobile, Ban Tawai is the center for handicraft decor and furniture products. Most of the “antiques” here are not considerably older than an Ikea sofa, but the designs are standard and the makers are professional at aging them. Ideal Kept Secret? Savvy shoppers go previous the principal location an additional half kilometer to see the articles being created, speak to the artists, and get the best rates.

BO SANG

Outdoors Chiang Mai on the SanKamPaeng road is an entire village whose inhabitants are committed to the creating and trading of Thai handicrafts. Walking the major street of Bo Sang gives a sense of the assortment offered, but bargain hunters duck to the back rooms to find the genuine treasures. Greatest Kept Secret? Factory direct prices for hand made mulberry paper are in a remote component of Bo Sang called Ton Bau. This is exactly where the makers are, and all have shops for browsing.

SUNDAY Industry

Every Sunday evening, the streets from Thai Pae Gate to Wat Pra Sihng are closed to visitors. Vendors from all more than Thailand lay out blankets and sell striking and original items at bargain-basement prices. Greatest Kept Secret? Many of the temples in the walking area also provide space for vendors. Shoppers uncover bargains although viewing temples at a time they would not normally be open to the public.

For aspiring travelers who will not get to Thailand this year, there is yet another alternative for satisfying that wish for genuine Thai handicrafts — get direct from Thailand on the Net. Thailand’s Net infrastructure has drastically enhanced, and with the advent of international payment systems like http://PayPal.com, the days of expensive wire transfers and letters of credit are gone. These days, shoppers go on-line and order Thai handicrafts direct from Thailand and have them delivered door-to-door with no knowledge of import-export. Ideal Kept Secret? The oldest and most skilled of these on-line vendors is http://ExporThai.com. ExporThai.com has been promoting Thai Handicrafts wholesale above the Internet considering that 1999, serving thousand of buyers all more than the world.

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Thailand Voted Asia"s Number One particular Travel Location