A research study indicates that, despite unrest
in the three southern border provinces, the local property business has
continued to grow.
The research study was undertaken by a lecturer
at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, and it was
publicized by the Thailand Research Fund.
According to the study, the property business
development in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces is comparable to an
alternative, or a mechanism, to reduce the level of violence and ease southern
problems. In order to create confidence among investors in this business in the
three predominantly Muslim provinces, all people involved, especially property
business operators, need to have related business information and understand
how to develop this business on a sustainable basis.
The study, conducted between 2011 and 2012,
focuses on a survey of the number and forms of housing projects, investment, marketing,
and obstacles to the local property business. In the survey, government
officials, employees of private companies, entrepreneurs, traders, and farmers
were interviewed. Information gained from the interviews was compiled and
analyzed.
The study indicates that the number of business
registrations in the three southern border provinces increased by 10 percent a
year on average. Yala came first in terms of domestic demand for housing,
followed by Pattani and Narathiwat. As for the forms of housing, detached
houses and semi-detached houses are in great demand, followed by commercial
buildings and shop houses, townhouses and townhomes, and southern-style and
Malay-style houses.
In choosing a location for their housing,
residents in the three provinces attached great importance to their convenience
in terms of transport and communications, followed by their participation in
managing the housing projects, project sites, public utilities and facilities,
safety, recommendations by their relatives and other people, prices, and
contracts.
According to the responses by the five groups of
respondents to the survey – government officials, employees of private
companies, entrepreneurs, traders, and farmers – all the groups wanted a
two-story detached house most. The house should cover 248 square meters, with
two or three bedrooms and one toilet.
Investment and marketing strategies implemented
by most local property business operators emphasize efforts to respond to the
demands of consumers. For instance, there are roads leading to the houses,
waterworks, electricity, and telephone systems, primary health care services,
and safety measures. After-sales service and the provision of credit from the
Islamic Bank are also important factors for local residents to consider in
their decision to buy a house.
The study concludes that the property business
in the three southern border provinces has continued to grow. Moreover,
property development will help stimulate the local economy, which will lead to
the reduction of violent acts and improve the situation in the deep South.
(thailand.prd.go.th)