Property Market Slow Down

In 2002, H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, announced that 100% freehold ownership of certain properties in Dubai was available to all nationalities. This was a brave decision when you consider Dubai Emirate is home to more foreign national than Dubai nationals. A 1998 census shows only 17% of the population was Dubai national. As a result of this decision, Dubai has had one of the most vibrant property sectors in the world for the last 5 years with massive funds pouring in to the Emirate to finance development. But what restrictions are imposed by the term certain properties? The Sheikh took a pragmatic view. Certain properties covers properties that are not beach front properties, not properties in the 'old', historic part of town and not properties in areas of strategic importance. This list may not be complete but it covers the main restrictions to foreign ownership of freehold property in Dubai. It also gives you an idea of the relaxed nature of the restrictions imposed by the Sheikh.

Now what would happen to the Thai property sector if the powers that be in Thailand took a similar pragmatic view to foreign ownership of freehold property in Thailand? Regardless of how extensive they make the certain properties list, the property sector would boom and Thai nationals would be amongst the beneficiaries. Seems pretty logical to me but I suspect your response would be, "dream on"..........

• First Half Growth Modest - Thailand's tourism industry reported slight growth in the first half of this year with the number of foreign tourist arrivals up 3.3 percent year-on-year to 6.95 million. Phuket International Airport recorded heavy growth of 15 percent to around 625,000 arrivals, according to Juthaporn Rerngronasa, a deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. China is one of Thailand's fastest growing source markets, with a record 1.03 million arrivals last year. [via Bangkok Post]
  

• Pattaya Wheelchair Sports Invitational 2007 begins - The Pattaya International Wheelchair Sports Invitation 2007 commenced on Wednesday at the Indoor Athletics Stadium in Soi Chaiyapruk 2 in Jomtien. The four-day sporting event was officially opened by Khun Prachar, Governor of Chonburi Province. Traditional Thai dancing marked the colorful opening and the event features 137 competitors from Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Iran, Laos and Japan. Members of the public are more than welcome to attend any of the sporting days and admission is free. [via Pattaya City News]

  

• Durex Search For Condom Testers In Thailand - International prophylactic maker Durex is hunting for 500 condom testers in Thailand to assure that its products are providing 'end-user' satisfaction, media reports said Wednesday. No report given on what equipment is supplied, e.g. condom, receptacle, glove... They must be testing the small sizes cause only Thai nationals need apply..... [via Thailand News Net]

• Tickex - The ticket search engine for live events in the UK and USA, be it tickets for concerts, the theatre or sports events. In one simple search, Tickex gives people seeking to book tickets free access to millions of tickets from all the major primary and secondary brokers. This means you can see availability and pricing for concert events, theatre events and sporting events on one easy-to-use website. Think of it as your own online box office!

• A Somali arrives in Manchester. He is a new immigrant to Britain. He stops the first person he sees walking down the street and says, "Thank you Mr. Britisher for letting me in this country!" But the passer-by says "You are mistaken, I am Pakistani". The man goes on and encounters another passer-by. "Thank you for having me to such a beautiful country as Britain!" The person says "I no British, I Hong Kong Chinese." The new arrival walks further, and the next person he sees he stops, shakes his hand and says "Thank you for the wonderful country of Britain". That person puts up his hand and says "I am from the Middle East, I am not British". He finally sees a nice lady and asks suspiciously, "Are you British?" She says, "No, I am from Jamaica!" So he is puzzled, and asks her, "Where are all the British people?" The Jamaican lady looks at her watch, shrugs, and says, "Probably at work."

• Top 20 Thai Models - From Volume Magazine [via Asian Sweetheart]
  

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