Phuket Realty

Expat Residents by Nation for Phuket

Original article: http://phuketwan.com/tourism/latest-expat-totals-nation-phuket/

By Shanya Phattrasaya and Alan Morison

Monday, March 16, 2009

Phuketwan Statistical Analysis

DEBATE often surrounds the number of overseas residents who live on Phuket. The official figures, obtained by Phuketwan from Phuket Immigration, provide the most accurate guide.

They show that a total of 18,475 visas were extended in 2008, 9159 short-term (tourist, 60 days, 30 days, 15 days, seven days) and 9316 long-term (non-Immigrant B or O or student-teacher, plus others).

The figures include all those who sought to extend visas at Phuket Immigration. 

The top 10 nations: 

1. Britain, 2722 (1125 short, 1597 long);
2. Sweden 1404 (988 short, 416 long);
3. France 1321 (716 short, 608 long);
4. Italy 1278 (892 short, 386 long):
5. Germany 1261 (456 short, 805 long);
6. US 1143 (503 short, 640 long);
7. Philippines 875 (367 short, 508 long);
8. Australia 870 (396 short, 474 long);
9. Switzerland 762 (328 short, 434 long);
10. Canada 585 (340 short, 245 long).

Where are you from? What are you doing on Phuket? Please tell us in the Comment box below

At the other end of the scale with one visa each are Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liechtensein, Nigeria, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, El Salvador, Gambia and Macau. 

So you just never know who is on that lounger alongside you at the beach. 

If national characteristics can be extrapolated from the figures, then Swedes and Italians seem to prefer short-term visas while Germans prefer the long-term ones. 

An important point is perhaps that people from colder climates seem to come to stay in substantial numbers. The Top 10 visa countries are at odds with the Top 10 nations as tourists. 

We are still waiting for a comprehensive report on Q4 arrivals by nation. 

The best comparison we have is with 2007, where the Top 10 tourism countries were: 

1. Australia
2. Britain 
3. Sweden 
4. Korea 
5. Germany 
6. China 
7. Russia 
8. Japan 
9. USA 
10. Malaysia 

Of interest because of the numbers of guides who operate from those countries are Korea (2 short term, 276 long term) and Russia (289 short-term, 113 long-term.)

From looking at both lists, we can state the obvious: that most people who come to stay for longer than tourists are from countries where English is relatively widely spoken, and that most come from cold-climate countries. 

They are also predominantly Western and therefore probably better placed economically to make the shift. 

Tourist numbers are in retreat across Phuket's traditional Asian sources: China, Korea and Japan. 

But these countries are also not yet at the stage as travelling nations where the concept of spending a long time in another country has become accepted. 

Japan and to a lesser extent Korea are now exporting plenty of independent travellers, but in China, it's still mostly all packaged tours. 

Perhaps as English becomes more widely spoken and prosperity swings towards Asia, that all might change over the next 20 years. 

We'll let you know.

Oodles of room at Phuket inns

Bangkok Post Jan 1, 2009

The number of new hotel rooms in Phuket will increase by 38 per cent this year notwithstanding the current domestic political situation and the international financial downturn.

Popular tourist destination Phuket could well suffer from an oversupply of hotel rooms in 2009.

In addition, 30 new hotels on the island are at various stages of development with over 4,918 rooms becoming available within the next three years, according to market research carried out by C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality consulting firm.

It found that there are nearly 40,000 rooms on offer in Phuket at the moment, ranging from guest houses to branded hotels. Approximately 10,000 of these are in international hotels.

There will be a 50 per cent increase in the number of international-standard units there, with 47 per cent of that figure being upscale and luxury hotels, 41 per cent midscale, nine per cent budget/economy and three per cent extended stay (villas/condominiums), according Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks.

2009 is set to see the largest surge in supply with 1,850 new rooms scheduled to open, he noted.

"Branding of hotels is also on the rise with 27 of the 30 hotels operated by international, regional and domestic chains. Thailand-based brands such as Anantara and Centara are growing at a rapid pace and regional chains such as Langham are now expanding into the country," he said.

The firm's market research also revealed that two locations, the east coast of Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, are set to define a whole new era in the luxury-property sector.

Immigration to issue "frequent traveller" card

A new immigration card will be introduced for use by those going in and out of Thailand by the end of this year, said Immigration Police chief, Pol Lt-Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit.

Holders of the Immigration Card will include those who travel in and out of the country three to five times in a year, regardless of their nationality.

The Immigration Card holders, Thai and foreign alike, will bypass normal procedures of the Immigration Police which include scanning for criminal suspects or those on the police and immigration Watch List.

Instead, the Immigration Card holders will have the privileges to go through fast passage at airports, the Immigration Police chief said.

The Immigration Card, which will be issued to travellers by the end of this year, at the height of the tourist season, was part of the efforts to promote tourism and investment in the country.

Unfortunately, as usual the initial information offered is extremely vague.
For a start I find it unfortunate to name "immigration Card" a card intended for tourist and not immigrants.
There is no explanation as to who can get this card and how to apply.

Besides, everyone remembers the advantages offered to those who subscribed a few years ago to the Elite Card -which cost at the time one million Baht or USD 30,000- and that were similar to those introduced here : 5 year visas, "V.I.P. passage" at airports, etc.).
All of theses services where canceled when the Elite Card (which was promoted by the government though) went bankrupt.

(Last) little bit of Paradise

For those who have reached saturation with Patong and its crowd, I would like to show that there are still some pristine places in Phuket.

Therefore, here is a small beach located in Rawai near Promthep Cape (No it's not Nui Beach).

As you can see one can still leave in front of a desert beach. For this one it is a ltille too late though:
Phuket Immobilière Agency has already sold all the land that was in front of this beach.

To settle in Thailand

We have received on our agency site (www.phuketimmo.com) a question from someone who wishes to come to live in Phuket and asks how to organize his relocation, and specially wonders how to bring his labrador dog to Thailand.

Generally speaking, there are companies specialized in relocation and transport.
Here are 2 such international companies based in Bangkok with foreign managers:

1. Frederic Constant
   Corporate Account Manager
   Santa Fe Relocation Services
   Thailand
   Tel: (662) 742-9890-2 ext. 120
   Mobile: 0860593719
   Fax: (662) 741-4089
   Email: frederic@santafe.co.th
   Website: http://www.santaferelo.com
2. JOY BELLE R. LLENADO
   Agility, the new name for Trans-Link
   Bangkok, Thailand
   Tel.: +66 2681 2000 EXT. 306
   Mobile:+66 84647 9297
   Fax: +66 22681 2100
   joybelle_l@translink.co.th
   www.agilitylogistics.com

Joy further describes the procedure:

"The following documents are required in importing pet in Thailand:
1. Original rabies vaccination certificate stating that the animal has been
vaccinated for *not less* than 30 days, but *not more* than one year before
the arrival
   to destination country.
2. Original health certificate
3. Original owner's passport
4. Original AWB
5. Pet's photo
6. Full destination address, telephone number and email address

The copy of the above required documents should be sent to us at least 7
days prior to pet's arrival.  Original passport should be available 1 day
prior to pet's arrival & the rest of the required original documents should
be present on the arrival date."

How many people live in Phuket?

On the occasion of an argument between the state and the province, Phuket governor Niran Kalayanamitr, released an information which much suspected already, but had never been officially formulated regarding the number of inhabitants in Phuket.

Indeed, he complained that Phuket had received unusually low allocations in the past because the government had based the budget on the island's registered population, which stood at only 300,000 people.
Actually, according to Mr. Kalayanamitr, up to a million people live in Phuket and around six million people visit the island annually.

Are we there yet?

Here is a question asked to our real estate agency, (Phuket Immobilière Agency):

I would like to buy a villa in Phuket. I am interested in a villa located in Nai Harn Beach. I would like to know if it is near the British Curriculum International School (BCIS).

Nai Harn is far away from the international schools (BCIS & QSI). I know some residents who left the South of the island because of the journey to the school. Indeed, during rush hours, the trip can take an hour, this is due for a large part to the Central Festival crossing, which can last 15 minutes.

You will find here an interactive map showing distances between the main areas of Phuket:
http://www.botanvillage.com/location.php

Nevertheless, some things area not apparent on a road map.

Bottlenecks are one of them. We have already seen the problem of the Central – Big C crossing (the traffic light lasts 3 minutes, but since you we miss it at least once before passing, it can make: 3+3+3+3= 12 minutes).
Under an inoffensive aspect, The Chalong roundabout is also frightening.

Topograhpy influences also a lot.

A little bit of geography...
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand but the second smallest province in area. The main island itself has an area of about 539 sq.km., about the same size as Singapore. The total land area of the province, including 39 small nearby islets, is about 570 sq.km.
70% of the area are mountains stretching from north to south, while the other 30% are plains, mainly in the central and and eastern parts of the island. 
There is no important river but a total of 9 brooks and creeks. The west coast are stretches of white sandy beaches which are major tourist developments.

Therefore, communications will be easier in the eastern and central part of the island, which are served by a network of express ways, whereas all the western part is locked by sheer stepped hills, which imposes sinuous slow and dangerous roads.
Certain areas as Kamala have only one North – South axis; which means that, even if on a map the road from Kamala to BCIS looks short, it takes almost the same time than going from the British school to Laguna.

These practical considerations explain why the place of predilections from Foreigners who want to settle in the long run in Phuket is the center, i.e. Kathu, because it is near everything (schools, administrative and business centers, hospitals, beaches and golf courses).

Why is the East Coast more beautiful ?

The West Coast of Phuket is more fashionable (and far more expensive) than the East Coast.
It is true that one can find more white sand beaches on the West Coast that in the East whereas most of the East Coast is muddy and strewn with rocks.

Nevertheless, in my opinion the East Coast offer far more variety of scenery and the islands that we can always see in the background makes it more beautiful and interesting.

See for yourself:
Here are some snapshots taken on the West Coast. I avoided on purpose the over-crowded beach of Patong (and generally the South of Phuket) and I went in the North of the island which remains (for how long) pristine.

    This is Nai Yang Beach, a short drive from the International Airport.

  This is Mai Khao Beach, near the J. W. Marriott Hotel. It's ... quiet.

It is nice. It is what one expects for a holiday in a tropical resort: white sandy beach, blue sea, coconut trees…
It is safe to swim during six month of the year from November to May.

Now the common knowledge says you cannot to swim on the East Coast.
For a start, this is not true. One can swim at the beach of Panwa Bay Village Resort in Cape Panwa or at Ao Yun Beach; you can even learn to sail there at the Phuket Yacht Club.

  Ao Yun Beach.

Any form of nautical activity is safe year round on the East Coast since it is part of the large Phang Nga Bay end is protected from the monsoon winds.
The East Coast is therefore a good starting point to explore the many islands of the Bay, or even sail to Koh Phi Phi or Krabi.

       

On Kho Yao or Kho Maphrao Islands, for $ 410,000, one can buy a beach front villa. And When I say beach front, I mean this: