30th March 2020. Well, the world looks very different than it did 12 weeks ago, that’s for sure. On 26th January, I got my first joke about Coronavirus and calling in sick, and just over 8 weeks later the world is in “Lock-down” and the crazy people are fighting over toilet paper. It all happened so fast, too fast.
Today, Phuket resembles something similar to a ghost island, very few tourists, mainly riding motorbikes, no face-masks, no helmet, no t-shirt and no brains. Hotels, tour operators and attractions, boat trips, bars, bridges, spas, elephant camps, airport, ferry terminals, massages shops, shopping malls and now beaches, all closed. And believe me, that leaves very little open.
Everyone is asking the same questions; “will we survive, when will it end, when will it get back to normal?” Only time will tell. But, personally, I think that when the virus has subsided and Phuket opens up again, it will never get back to normal. I say that because I think the “powers-that-be” have hopefully learned a great lesson. The old standard of “normal” will not return, and a new heightened standard of new normal will take its place. Quality tourism over the quantity of poor tourism.
So what about the real estate industry? Well, as everywhere in the world, currently it has stopped, halted, paused, but it’s not dead. And, if anyone tells you any different, they are either smoking something they shouldn’t be, taking too much hydroxychloroquine, mad or just plain lying. Some vendors are already responding to the situation by revisiting their pricing, see here for a great example.
There are though, plenty of investors sitting on the fence, swinging their legs and drinking a beer, just waiting for the right time to jump in. Will those days of 2005-2008 return? Who knows (note to self; look on Amazon for a crystal ball) It could get close if Phuket toes the line of quality tourism etc. Don’t forget, Phuket, is still beautiful.
Is Phuket safe in times like these? Good question! It would appear safer than many other places in the world.
Looking at the COVID-19 situation to date we have 41 cases, officially and the majority of these were concentrated within a small area of Patong. Now, none of us actually really believe that figure, but having said that, none of our friends or our friend’s friends know anyone in our circles that have had any symptoms, and bad news travels faster than light on Phuket. So we are left with the conclusion that things are not so bad, yet.
Of course, hand washing and social distancing play a huge part in protection, but never-the-less, things are not stir crazy here. There is no shortage of food or FMCG on the shelves, home delivery is a booming business like never before and everyone seems to be calm and personable. At the newly opened Porto de Phuket, Central Supermarket, staff are checking all shoppers’ temperature and dispensing hand sanitizing gel prior to entering the shop and grocery shopping is calm and dignified with the occasional nod between patrons. It’s almost surreal.
Back To The Future
In summary, Phuket is coping very well indeed, the sun is shining, people are calm and there is no daylight curfew as yet. The tourism and real estate industry will return, of that I have no doubt. And when it does, it’s going to get very busy, very quickly. Keep safe.
