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The hotel sector will surge this year amid positive signs for hotel occupancy and room rates since the last quarter of 2015, said the Thai Hotels Association (THA).

Relative peace and stability in recent months has contributed to the tourism boost, the THA said.

The association noted hotel occupancy rates nationwide had risen by single digits year-on-year in the first quarter to 70-75%. Average room rates, in turn, have risen 10% since early this year.

This is taken as a positive sign, as room rates had failed to increase for years on account of political turmoil in the country.

The THA, therefore, projects average hotel income to grow by 15% this year, said president Supawan Tanomkieatpume.

In the first quarter, the THA reported that Bangkok, the North and the South had recorded noticeably higher occupancy rates. Rates in Bangkok rose to 75%, while occupancy rates in the North increased to 85%-90% and those in the South climbed to 80%-85%.

Only the East experienced a five-point decline to 65% due to a drop in Russian visitors.

Ms Supawan said the North, especially Chiang Mai, had seen significant occupancy growth thanks to the cross-border arrivals by road of Chinese tourists. The association forecast the average occupancy rate in the second quarter would be 5% higher year-on-year.

With this positive trend, the THA is confident that overall inbound tourist arrivals will meet the target of 32 million this year, with the key driver coming from 8-10 million Chinese tourists.

Although Chinese tourists spend less on average than Europeans, whose growth is expected to be flat, their sheer volume can offset lacklustre arrivals from Europe, she added.

Source: Bangkok Post

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Source: hairstyles68

Chaing Mai’s range of shopping malls may not be on par with the plethora of megamalls in Bangkok, but the commercial retail scene in the northern capital certainly is on the rise, with several big openings popping up over the last few years.

The prominent Central Group first arrived near the airport a long while ago and have since added another massive mall to their ever-growing portfolio on the highway near Big C (Central Festival). The modern Maya Mall makes our list too, located in the trendy Niman area, and we’ve also a couple of golden oldies still worth checking out for their bargains and sense of nostalgia. Find our top five shopping malls in Chiang Mai below.

This first Central Mall to be built in Chiang Mai still remains the most popular thanks to its easy to reach location near the airport, and just a short 5-10-minute tuk-tuk ride from the Old City. Inside you’ll find an air-conditioned haven of shops, from designer brands (not that many) to common high street names. There’s also a decent food court downstairs, cute ‘Lanna’ style markets selling handicrafts and local produce and a large entertainment complex at the top complete with cinema and games arcade. For those staying near the Amora Thapae, Imperial Mae Ping, Centara Duangtawan, D2, Suriwong Hotel, Royal Princess, Empress and Holiday Inn hotels there is a free shuttle service to the mall. If you’re staying elsewhere, you might want to look at a map and see if the newer ‘Central Festival’ is closer.

One of the latest malls to hit Chiang Mai is the impressive Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre, located on the trendy Niman Road (thus proving very popular with local yuppies and university students). The ‘lifestyle’ title is quite appropriate for this mall; as well as ample fashion stores, you’ll find a range of restaurants, cafes, an entertainment complex with a cinema, and an awesome rooftop which boasts plenty of bars with city views (our recommendation is ‘Myst’). On the shopping front, big names to look out for at this rather futuristic-looking mall include Jaspal, CC-00, Adidas and Oakley – although if it’s purely fashion you’re after then Central’s two malls do provide more options.

The second of Central Group’s malls arrived in Chiang Mai in 2014 and offers a whopping 250,000 sqm of floor space over 70 acres – making this the city’s biggest mall. Sometimes just know as ‘Central Fest’, the mall is located right on the superhighway that goes around the city; great for those with cars, not do great for tourists staying in the Old City about 15-20 minutes away (you’ll need a taxi or tuk-tuk). In terms of fashion, Central Festival is also unrivalled, with international brands such as Topshop/Topman, Marks & Spencer, H&M and plenty of international and local designer names taking up space in the department store spread over six floors. Of course, no Central mall is complete without a cinema and dozens of restaurants, meaning you could spend a whole day here if that your thing (or if it’s raining outside).

The first ever mall to be built in Chiang Mai, the long-standing Kad Suan Kaew is a shopping institution in the city, even though it doesn’t draw the same crowds as it used to. The inside is showing its age a bit, but the good thing about this mall is that its located equidistance from both Niman Road and the north-western edge of the Old City – so walking distance if you are staying around here. International fashion stores are a bit limited, but the food court never disappoints and there is also some bowling and beers available on the top floor, good for rainy days or an afternoon out of the heat.

Never heard of a ‘resort mall’ before? Let us explain the concept. The idea behind Promenada was to create a shopping space that felt as though you were on vacation, or walking through a park with plenty of greenery, trees and ponds to help the mall blend into the natural landscape. While we’re not sure about how ‘natural’ this mall really is, there is plenty of good stores and restaurants to look out for, as well as a large cinema, bowling lanes and ice skating rink. Find Promenada Resort mall on Chiang Mai-Sankampaeng Road, just off the Super Highway.

Source:Qiang Mai

Above: A boom in tourism has seen the region grow spectacularly over recent years.

Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern second city is thriving.

A boom in tourism has seen the region grow spectacularly over recent years. The increase in both national and international visitors has been felt across a variety of different sectors. None more so than its property market which up until the latter part of the last decade had been somewhat stagnant, especially when compared to the likes of Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin.

However, since 2011 the Chiang Mai property market has flourished. As well as the tourism boom the opening of new large retail outlets and shopping complexes have also had a positive impact on the market, with land prices close to the new Central Festival shopping complex increasing in value fivefold. Only two years ago land in this area sold for approximately 3 million baht per rai. However, today, the same land plots are valued at almost 15 million Baht per rai, according to this recent article on the Reuters website.

Above: Land prices close to the new Central Festival shopping complex increasing in value fivefold.

Improvements in Infrastructure

The city’s airport is also currently undergoing expansion to cope with influx for visitors and the regions major transport networks are also due for a major overhaul, with plans in place to develop a high speed rail linkbetween Chiang Mai and Bangkok and Chiang Mai-Phitsanulok already at an advanced stage.

The growth in Chiang Mai hasn’t gone unnoticed by many Bangkok property developers, who are now providing a wider range of houses, shops, luxury developments and condos for sale in the region than ever before. The results of which have seen a significant and positive change to the housing and commercial property landscape in Chiang Mai.

Above: The city’s airport is also currently undergoing expansion to cope with influx for visitors.

High demand for condos in ChiangMai

The condo market in Chiang Mai is also very healthy. As well as being driven by the tourism boom and growing expat community, after the floods of 2011, many Bangkok residents have chosen Chiang Mai as the place in which to purchase a second home, with condos seemingly fitting the bill for many Bangkok based property buyers.

According to research by Colliers International, Chiang Mai is home to more than 100,000 university students with many finding that buying an affordable condo in Chiang Mai is a more attractive proposition than renting.

For expats in Chiang Mai or those thinking of relocating to the area, purchasing a condo is also an attractive proposition as foreigners are able to buy a condo in Thailand, without any restrictions providing that 51% or more of the total number of units in the condominium project are Thai owned.

Above: Since 2011 the Chiang Mai property market has flourished.

Great Value Condos in Chiang Mai

With the news of the thriving property market in Thailand’s second city, we take a look a selection of great value condominiums for sale in Chiang Mai.

Source: Thai Visa Property

Japanese tenants are popular among Bangkok property investors as they typically take good care of their units and are meticulous about timely rent. In partnership with Sansiri, we hosted a preview of Sansiri’s latest freehold condominium project, Mori Haus, situated in T77 – the new Japanese residential community (Sukhumvit 77) of Bangkok. Mori Haus is a Thai-Japanese Resort Condo, the first of its kind in Bangkok, and over 850 investors in Hong Kong attended over the weekend and had the opportunity to select the best units in the project.

Above: Over 850 investors attended the weekend exhibition to preview Sansiri’s exclusive project, Mori Haus.

Above:Terence Chan, Director of Golden Emperor Properties, provided a presentation of the Bangkok property market.