The first time we wrote about how COVID-19 had affected Phuket tourism and property industry was back at the end of March last year (see here). An update followed in Q3 highlighting the 14-day quarantine rule for those wishing to enter Thailand (see here). What a massive flop that was, TAT were expecting a take-up of around 250,000 – 300,000 applicants. Instead, they got less than 300. And 70% of those were not tourists but business visitors. Roll the tumbleweed!
Anyhow, it’s February 2021. “So what’s new?” I hear you cry! Well, let me give it to you straight, since our first blog in March the infected figures worldwide stood at just under 1 million, today we are at over 100 mill COVID-10. Deaths were approx 45,000 and today they are 2.15 mill. That’s shocking, if you believe the figure are real, but were not going to get into that now.
The UK is in total lock-down for the fourth time and rumours are that this one could last until April. New strains are coming to light weekly it seems. And several vaccines are being rolled out to test on protect the vulnerable. Wow, it all happened so quickly we didn’t have time to be astonished!
COVID-19 On Phuket
But what’s going to happen to Phuket tourism and property industry, well we’re not sure at the moment, it’s all very vague. You see, whilst the rest of the world is being brain-washed by Big Pharma and the Politicians, on Phuket, it’s as if we’ve been told to wear a mask, wash our hands and not touch our face for a reason that is not an issue on the island. Please don’t get mad, I’m just saying what everyone here is thinking. And “yes” I’m sure there is a genuine and devastating virus that is creating global chaos and death.
Let me, if I may, put it like this. Neither myself, my colleagues in all walks of life here, my friends, their friends or my partners friends friends don’t know ANYONE that has had COVID anywhere in Thailand, let alone Phuket. Not even the remote cases we have had on Phuket, nobody knows any of these people that had the virus. Why is that? Good fortune, luck, right time right place? To say it’s weird is an understatement.
OK, back to the world of Phuket real estate, bear with me, this part won’t take long. As mentioned, we have no international tourist (I mean real ones, not the fake, “over here on business but it’s a holiday”)
If a buyer wants to come and fly in to buy a property from outside of Thailand, it’s going to be a long and very painful process and good luck with that. If a buyer wants to have virtual viewings and go through the Due Diligence process, not a problem, and we are delighted to help, and this is happening. Domestic buyers, usually from Bangkok have been active on Phuket and transactions have been taking place in between various BKK lock-downs. Other than this, it’s quiet, very quiet and unsurprisingly so.
There are more fire/flash sales taking place and if you are lucky enough to find what you are looking for at a price you are agreeable with, you are not alone and the competition is getting fierce for these properties.
So When Can We Expect Tourism To Return?
One thing’s for sure, vaccine or no vaccine for COVID-19, it’s still going to be a pain in the arse, or shoulder. Flying may be a “no-no” with a number of airlines if you do not have proof of vaccine. Immigration in many countries may jump on this too. So when can we expect tourism to return? Well, we don’t know the answer to that one either. Best case scenario Q4 2021 & Q1 2022, realistically and not in the numbers we once knew.
Some people love to poke fun at the way the government handle things in Thailand, myself included on occasions. But, they have handled the pandemic very well, far better than a large percentage of the modern world. On Phuket, we have never been locked down in our own homes, having the freedom to walk, exercise and travel within our own sub-district whenever we wanted. Sensible measures are in place and everyone recognises their own part to play in being safe but not reckless.
We still go out to restaurants, bars, beaches and shopping malls, life goes on and that’s a pretty big deal for a great majority of the world population. Phuket life throughout COVID-19 has something that a big percentage of the world’s countries don’t have, freedom and safety. Now maybe the best time to buy on Phuket.
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