Why invest in Samui?

Luxury Villas & Property for Sale and Rent in Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is unique as an economy in that it is largely unaffected by external events due to its worldwide appeal as a tourist destination and its appeal as a place to reside. Koh Samui is a place that people like to escape to if they look for a few weeks in a tropical, relaxing environment or if they are looking for that dream location to move to on a more permanent basis.

Koh Samui’s global appeal ensures that there is always a steady flow of arrivals regardless of what is happening in other countries around the world. Whereas in the past, it was mainly British, French, German and Australian tourists that visited KohSamui in large numbers, this is now supplemented by Russians, with the Chinese, South Koreans and Indians fast catching up.

Unlike other Thai beach destinations, such as Phuket, Pattayaand HuaHin, Koh Samui is not commercially (or physically) overcrowded, and as such, still has huge growth potential. This coupled with the year round tourist season has encouraged inward investment for both domestic and foreign companies, such as:

The Bangkok based Central Group, has invested 96 Mn USD on a newly completed shopping mall in Chaweng which has a floor area of 90,000 Sqm’s located on 24 Acres of land.
Platinum Group, a Thai development company has spent 20 Mn USD on building a shopping plaza in Bophut, and another 27 Mn USD on 1 x 4 star and 1 x 5 star hotel. Tesco Lotus has built 3 major supermarkets in KohSamui + approximately 20 Tesco Express stores, Big C also has a major supermarket and Makro also has 2 stores on the island.
Many upmarket hotel/resort brands have chosen to have a presence in Koh Samui, these include: Four Season Resort, Banyan Tree Resort, Conrad, W Resort, Six Senses Hideaway, SalaSamui, Orient Express, Vana Belle, Le Meridian, Renaissance, Amari and Intercontinental to name a few. In the last year, Sheraton and Movenpick have both opened on the island. In addition the Ritz-Carlton is planned to open in the near future.
4 private hospitals are located in KohSamui, in addition to the government hospital. The private hospitals cater for both medical emergencies and cosmetic procedures.

Thailand Govt Says Reform a Top Priority

The government is putting the final touches on a Thailand Reform scheme which Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hopes to announce as a New Year’s gift to the people.

PM’s Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said yesterday the government hoped people would benefit from the scheme through improvements in quality of life, equality and justice.

The Thailand Reform scheme, which Mr Abhisit plans to announce on state TV, will be a New Year’s gift for all Thais.

Mr Abhisit called a meeting yesterday of his working committee on the plan.

Mr Sathit said the committee was determined that the strategy would introduce greater equality in the area of justice and where social inequality existed. Also to be tackled are the economy, education and people’s quality of life.

The minister said he had supervised a scheme aimed at improving people’s quality of life; his fellow PM’s Office minister, Ong-art Klampaibul, had overseen judicial reform and social inequalities; and the prime minister’s secretary-general, Korbsak Sabhavasu, was responsible for economic reform and welfare promotion for the poorer sectors of the community. Mr Abhisit is in charge of education reform.

Mr Sathit said the working committee would meet again tomorrow and next Friday before concluding the reform plan.

The reform will cover the distribution of land and community land documents, a reduction in the cost of living of low-income people, the expansion of welfare for non-formal workers such as taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi riders and street vendors, the expansion of educational opportunities available to the underprivileged, and promote social equality, he said.

Nows the Time to Invest in Koh Samui

The financial recovery is creating a prime opportunity to invest in Koh Samui. As global economies improve, with countries like Germany, France, Hong Kong, and Japan leading the way, tourism is expected to bounce back, benefiting Samui’s property market. Thailand remains an affordable destination, with attractive living conditions and rising property values, making it a good choice for retirees, investors, and young professionals. Exchange rates and easier loan criteria enhance the appeal, and value-for-money will be a key factor for future buyers.

The island’s established reputation, excellent infrastructure, and natural beauty add to its investment potential. While prices were adjusted due to the financial downturn, they never truly lost value, making now an ideal time to buy, especially unfinished or discounted properties. Investing early in the recovery phase can yield significant gains.

Thai Economy Expands 1.3 Percent in Q3

Thailand’s economy grew for a second straight quarter as government stimulus spending and an improvement in manufacturing propelled its recovery from recession, the government said Monday.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expanded 1.3 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter though the total size of gross domestic product remained below pre-crisis levels. The country is a popular tourist destination and a manufacturing base for global automakers including General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.

It emerged from recession in the second quarter, when the economy expanded 2.2 percent following a year of contraction.

The government has rolled out an economic stimulus plan including cash handouts to low income workers while the gradual recovery in global demand for exports has helped manufacturers.

The services sector grew 1.5 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter while manufacturing expanded 2.6 percent, according to the figures released by the National Economic & Social Development Board.

The economy remained smaller than a year earlier in the third quarter with gross domestic product down 2.8 percent.

Still, that was an improvement from year-on-year falls of 4.9 percent in the second quarter and 7.1 percent in the first quarter.