Thailand is Asia’s top tourist destination and offers a world class tourist industry at affordable prices, making it a magnet for visitors, re-locators and property investors alike. In many key locations in Thailand, the local economy relies heavily on tourism and increased property investment. This is good news for the domestic economic growth, and provides good capital returns.

Appealing Factors

• Once an exotic long haul destination, Thailand is now also a sophisticated tourist destination with a universal appeal.
• For thousands of people who have worked in Asia for many years, Thailand is a very attractive retirement destination, in which the living environment will feel familiar.
• Retirement visas are available for foreigners over 50 years of age.
• Thailand has good schools, an efficient health care system and it is seen as a friendly country in which to live or visit.
• Thailand offers beautiful mountains, dense forests and stunning beaches, a tropical climate and cities teeming with culture and color which draw visitors back each year.
• Warm weather for winter holidaymakers. Peak season is between November and February.

Economic Factors

• The relatively undiscovered nature of Thailand means that property prices here remain far below those in the more established European markets, although they are growing quickly and strongly (around 10-15% a year).
• Thailand is the largest growth market in Asia. Some businesses choose Thailand as a regional base from which to keep their employees working all around Asia.
• Thailand has recently attracted significant foreign investment. It has become one of the Asian economic leaders and is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
• The completion of the Suvarnabhumi-Bangkok International Airport (SBIA) is expected to spur growth in commercial property markets in eastern Bangkok as well as make Thailand even more accessible by air. Thailand is one of the cheapest places to fly to in Asia.
• The country has strong business links with China and has an excellent infrastructure as well as world-class facilities in many resort towns.
• Property is much cheaper in Thailand than elsewhere and an increase in overseas interest in property purchase has helped to create an economic recovery in Thailand. Property investors who bought post 1999 have witnessed impressive capital growth, particularly in major cities.
• Rental potential is great, due to increased government spending luring growing numbers of tourists.
• No capital gains tax for private investors, and low ongoing taxes.
• Today foreigners are regarded by the government as a big investment opportunity in Thailand.

Today, investors seek the stability and simplicity of property to gain good returns on investment.
50% of the members of The Times Rich List made their money through investing in property. Equities or stocks can be volatile but, despite current world economics, property is regarded as historically stable.
The benefit of buying specifically for investment purposes is the removal of emotion from the purchase while you regard the property purely as an investment vehicle. This could be in the form of re-assignable contract option to sell at a substantial profit prior to completion or a "buy-to-let" situation to generate a reliable rental income and incorporating substantial capital appreciation.