Best real estate Phuket

Phuket, at 539 square kilometers in size, is not only Thailand's largest island but also one of its wealthiest provinces. The beauty of the island is matched by its consistently tropical climate and undoubtedly the island's largest source of income comes from the tourism market, but there are also thriving rubber and cashew nut industries.

Very accessible: Phuket is linked to nearby Phang-Nga province on the mainland by bridge, but most of its visitors now choose to arrive by air. Phuket International Airport enjoys direct air services to major Asian cities like Hong-Kong, Singapore, Japan and Tapei, and now an increasing number cities outside of Asia, including London, Frankfurt and Perth, and connecting flights to anywhere in the world. The island benefits greatly with this solid infrastructure.

Consistently tropical climate: With temperatures throughout the year averaging 27 degrees Celsius, although there is a short rainy season, residents and visitors alike can expect to maintain healthy suntans at all times of the year.

Phuket was recently identified by Fortune magazine as one of the top retirement destinations in the world for a variety of reasons including the cost of living (1/3 of major European cities), climate, international standard facilities, security, the friendly environment and proximity to affluent regional cities.

Phuket presents today a unique balance of political and economic security, accessibility, low-cost modern convenience and laid back island charm, which appeals to lifestyle and financial investors worldwide. Inland, the visitors will find hills covered in lush tropical vegetation, paddies and plantations.

Internationally branded hotels have made Phuket a new luxury hub. Four and five star hotels in Phuket, including the Sheraton, Le Meridien, JW Marriot, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Dusit and Chedi, to name a few (with more under construction), welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors in 2006.
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Phuket has emerged as a medical tourism destination, due to 2 highly accredited International hospitals, Bangkok Phuket Hospital and Phuket International Hospital. Together they combine for a capacity of 300 beds. They also sport the ability to provide customer service in 10 different languages.

Its rapidly improving infrastructure is giving Phuket all the facilities of any modern community, such as big shopping complexes and international colleges.
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Phuket is also well know for its entertainment facilities and foreign communities. There are currently 3 marinas with a total capacity of 520 berths (Boat Lagoon, Royal Phuket Marina and Yacht Haven).

The island also offers excellent golf courses, such as the Blue Canyon, Mission Hills, Laguna, Loch Palm, and so on. The surrounding islands of the Andaman Sea offer a sailing and boating environment second to none in the world.

The neighbouring islands of the Andaman Sea offer a sailing and boating environment second to none in the world. The nearby Similan Islands are recognized as one of the world's top scuba diving destinations. Fishing, windsurfing, parasailing, jet-skiing and biking make Phuket a sportsman's dream come true.
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The National Disaster Warning Center, now working closely with warning centers in Hawaii and Japan, possesses a vast network of media communication links, radio, television, SMS text message facilities and warning towers. Three warning towers have already been installed in Patong Beach since the 2004 tsunami, each one covering a radius of about 1 km. Fifteen other towers will be installed around the island in the coming months.

However, we can't minimize the extent of the Tsunami tragedy nor the deep sadness at the loss of life, but we do marvel on how quickly the Island returned to normal. More than 80% of all hotels stayed opened and were unscathed and those that were damaged are now repaired and operating normally.
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Located in the Andaman Sea, about 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous with almost 50% still forested (jungle) and a further 25% consist of rubber plantations. The island is linked to the Thai mainland at its northern most point by the Sarasin Bridge. Just over an hour’s fight from Bangkok or Singapore, and with daily connections to most major Asian airports, Phuket is ideally situated for a short break or a relaxing vacation.
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The last official census showed about 250,000 people living in Phuket. This figure only includes those registered as resident in Phuket and as there is a significant semi-permanent work force from other provinces of Thailand, many semi-resident foreigners, and up to 75,000 visitors at any one time, it is likely that a more realistic figure would be in the range of 500,000.

The official language is standard Thai, but a local south Thai dialect is widely spoken. 75% of the islanders are Buddhist, 22% Muslim and 3%Christian.
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Phuket, is surrounded by 32 smaller islands. The famous Phi Phi Island, which gained fame by being the setting for the movie "The Beach" is within easy reach by boat from Phuket.

The Khao Sok National Park, just to the northeast and off Phuket, features lush tropical rain forests, still remote enough to inhabit wild tigers. Many safaris, daytrips and overnight tours to the national parks and the surrounding islands are available.
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