TravelNewsAsia.com

   

 

‘Impressive capital appreciation’ predicted for condos and villas at the US$150 million Royal Phuket Marina

Travel News Asia 5 July 2005

A world-class ‘luxury lifestyle marina’ rivaling renowned international resort communities in the Mediterranean and Caribbean is nearing completion on Thailand’s paradise island of Phuket.

Royal Phuket Marina, offering 350 berths and 400 luxury villas, penthouses and condominiums, is the island’s first ‘high-end’ residential marina, ranking among Asia’s premier boating hubs.

The complete luxury lifestyle community includes a Fisherman’s Wharf-style waterfront with dozens of international restaurants and cafes lining its 250-metre boardwalk. 

An up market shopping ‘retail-tainment’ complex, Horizons, is incorporating international designer brands as well as a gourmet supermarket, delicatessen and boutique bakery, and a wide range of high quality boutiques and stores specializing in fashion and beauty, gifts and home décor, sports and leisure, and boating and marine supplies. 

A 5-star boutique hotel, luxury Ayurvedic spa, swimming pools, tennis courts and state-of-the-art fitness facilities will also be integrated into the unique US$150 million development.

The resort-style community is located on Phuket’s eastern seaboard in Phang Nga Bay - only minutes away from an international college and hospitals, spectacular golf courses and Phuket Town.

Over one hundred tropical and exclusive white, sandy beaches as well as countless islands in spectacular Phang Nga Bay (including the famous James Bond island), Krabi and Phi Phi are only a short cruise away. Speedboat shuttles link residents to an exclusive private beach club on a nearby tropical island.

Royal Phuket Marina is the brainchild of telecom tycoon Gulu Lalvani, founder of Binatone, the world’s second largest manufacturer of digital cordless phones. The 65 year-old mogul, one of the original holiday-home residents of Phuket’s legendary Amanpuri resort, came out of retirement to realise his marina dream after persuading the Thai government to abolish a 200% import duty on imported boats that had brought the marine tourism industry to a standstill.

Mr. Lalvani made a personal pledge to Prime Minister Thaksin that, “if taxes were reduced, [he] would give [his] word that [he] would develop a world class marina.”

The result is one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech yachting infrastructures. The marina is raising the bar with technological advances and new standards of safety, both in Phuket and the region, with a deepwater basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences, it is the first in this region and berth take up is unprecedented.

Mooring and marina costs are much more affordable than comparable marinas in Asia, such as Singapore or Hong Kong, or Europe and the Caribbean. Fuel is 75%less than Europe and 60% less than Hong Kong. Crew costs are dramatically lower. “This is a significant advantage for Thailand over established marine centres,” said Mr Lalvani.

The first boats have already started arriving at their moorings, with the first condominiums ready for occupancy in September 2005. The official opening of the first phase of Royal Phuket Marina is scheduled for early December 2005. The entire project is due for completion in 2007.

With foreign freehold ownership of condominiums and villas now possible in Thailand, residences are being snapped-up by investors, including a large number of Hong Kong buyers.

Prices for a 1700 sq ft two-bedroom condominium start at US$280,000 and go up to US$840,000 for a four-bedroom 5,500 sq ft penthouse with rooftop and pool. Luxury villas with individual boat berths are priced up to US$1.6 million. 

Residences are being purchased both as homes in Thailand and holiday homes for rental purposes, with professional management maximizing returns.

Purchases secured during the development stage are made when “the upside on investment is at its highest”, say the developers. The property managers are CB Richard Ellis (Thailand), managers of many of the world’s largest and most prestigious developments.

Royal Phuket Marina is already being positioned as an international brand and the developers are “confident that owners will see impressive capital appreciation in a short time frame”.

“We are committed to making Phuket the most powerful luxury tourism centre in Asia,” added Mr Lalvani.

See other recent news regarding: Phuket

Subscribe to our Travel Industry News RSS Feed Travel Industry News RSS Feed from TravelNewsAsia.com. To do that in Outlook, right-click the RSS Feeds folder, select Add a New RSS Feed, enter the URL of our RSS Feed which is: https://www.travelnewsasia.com/travelnews.xml and click Add. The feed can also be used to add the headlines to your website or channel via a customisable applet. Have questions? Please read our Travel News FAQ. Thank you.

     

Advertising
Advertising

 
 
Copyright © 1997-2024 TravelNewsAsia.com