The government is looking to unlock land values in plots adjacent to Thailand's main airports including Phuket.
As reported in the Bangkok Post the land areas are owned by the Treasury Department but managed by AoT who will be tasked to seek development opportunities via external business partnerships.
What is being cited as possible examples to tap into the land bank is large-scale retail, hotels and conference centers.
Over the past few days I have been inundated by emails about a BBC news segment and subsequent magazine piece on "The Phuket Property Nightmare' by the BBC.
To read the BBC piece <link>http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34346620*CLICK</link>
Clearly the news has gone global and is inciting comments across many markets.
Jonathan Head who is the BBC journalist based in Bangkok is a longstanding and well regarded professional, though there is a debate on whether the piece in question is sensational or simply investigative.
From a non-partisan view the story has represented comments from both the aggrieved parties and local Thai government and legal sources so it remains well founded.
What is an issue is that there remains little recognition of the plights of foreign property buyers in Phuket and in reality all of Thailand. They are grouped under the status quo and remain unacknowledged in the wheels of consumer protection.
More worrisome is the reputation breach for Phuket real estate and the lack of a response by the local or national government.
As the focus continues to be on creating happiness in Thailand, the reality of public relations disasters like the BBC piece is they not proactively addressed and actioned.
Broadly speaking the island's property sector is populated by well-heeled developers from public companies like Laguna Hotels and Resorts, Charn Issara, Land and Houses, Sansiri, Pruska, Supalai and many more.
Though as everywhere in the world, there are those developments and transactions which run aground and threaten to under mind a larger marketplace.
What is needed here on the island is recognition by the provincial government of the importance of the sector and a vehicle to allow valid complaints from foreign nationals.
On an equal scale is a call out to the sector to create a method to address such widespread pr problems and mitigating broader damage. as they arise
Welcome to Phuket's latest nightmare.
According to The Nation newspaper the Thai government wants to make Phuket and Chiang Mai 'smart cities.'
Essentially the initiative is to create digital local economies with solid in infrastructure.
Looking at second steps, education and assistance to SME's (small medium enterprises) to get online is a significant goal.
Ultimately there is a broader national initiative to bring the internet to rural and local communities throughout Thailand.
Allan Zeman's Andara Signature snagged top honors at the Thailand Property Award 2015 held at Plaza Athenee in Bangkok this week.
Topping the winners list four times was the Andara Signature which won Best Villa Thailand, Best Villa Phuket, Best Landscape Architectural Design and Best Residential Architectural Design.
Minor's Bill Heineke was on hand to receive Real Estate Personality of the Decade, while his Anantara Phuket Layan Resort received an top honor as well.
In the Best Condo Phuket the winner was Emerald Terrace Condominium Patong.
Also weighing in was the Absolute World Group as Best Boutique Developer Thailand
Making news in Property Report magazine is the upcoming Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok.
Coming onboard is legendary designer Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston.
Interiors and hardscapes will be handed by the icon.
Sales of the branded residences has seen strong demand both domestically and overseas.
The 13th installment of the Phuket International Boat Show has been announced for January 7th to 10th 2016.
Royal Phuket Marina will again host the event, which has Thailand Elite on as principal sponsor.
A number of upscale real estate developments and hotels have already signed up for the show.
Phuket's latest multi-million dollar luxury villa estate Avadina Hills has come into the real estate market.
Currently the first release of three to four bedroom properties are on sale with a model unit opened this week.
With plot sizes averaging 3,500 square meters (close to two rai) and floor areas over 1,700 square meters pricing points start from THB300 million (approximately USD8.3 million).
Views from the estate look out over Layan and Bangtao Bay.
The project has been developed by an affiliate of Japan's Kajima Group and architecture by Sakakura Associates.
Over the next eighteen months Phuket's luxury villa market will see over USD500 million in new properties coming up sales in large estate or mixed use projects.
Leading Thai development firm Sansiri has announced a series of twenty five condominium projects in a venture with the BTS Group.
Over a five-year period the projects are valued in excess of THB100 billion.
The focus of the condo pipeline is on developments along new BTS routes and aimed at a demonstrated market trend of a rising number of urban buyers.
Former IMF economist Dr. Veerathai Santiprabhob has been appointed to head the Bank of Thailand.
The incoming governor is expect to address key challenges such as stimulating the country's low growth trajectory.
Other current concerns are increasing levels of private sector debt by both institutions and individual and a short fall in exports.
One confidence booster though is Dr. Santiprabhob's standing in the international financial community which will led to credibility for the current government.
