......Normally, in writing my ‘Eye On Pattaya’ editorials, I must do my best to look into the Eastern Seaboard real estate market and access what is pertinent to those looking for insights into the property sector.
Having had the ‘Yellow Shirt’ protesters close Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport for 10 days and more recently the ‘Red Shirt’ protesters bring a premature end to the ASEAN Summit meeting at Pattaya’s Royal Cliff Hotel, we really need to look beyond our immediate Eastern Seaboard area for answers to our local real estate sector’s future.
I was considering giving this editorial the title ‘The Real Boom Is Still Ahead’ (Part II) as I was thinking to myself that things couldn’t get much worse, thus … things are looking up!
Yes, that’s a great idea! Let’s ‘spin’
this incredible self-inflicted tragedy into
a positive.
Then, after about a nanosecond of time I realised that this may not be the bottom and that things may get worse for Thailand ... and therefore, may get worse for our local real estate market.

Incredible catastrophes
No sooner had I begun asking myself just how things could get worse for Thailand’s economy, I started remembering all of the incredible catastrophes Thailand has gone through while I have lived here in Thailand over the past 18 years.
It was February 1991, when General Suchinda Kraprayoon toppled the civilian government of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan in a bloodless takeover. Then, a year later, in May 1992, General Suchinda was forced from power, by the King, when General Suchinda’s troops gunned down a ‘whole lot’ of pro-democracy demonstrators in Bangkok (actual videos of the event were selling in Bangkok the day after and you can count for yourself!)
As you may already know, Thailand has a history of political turmoil and turbulence. The country has witnessed at least 10 successful coups and seven abortive coup attempts since 1932.
And these were all prior to when the Thai military forces seized power on September 19, 2006, dismissing Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra’s government.
So let’s see ... 10 bona fide coups ... seven ‘wanna be’ coups ... our most recent Thaksin coup and then a string of ‘coup-revolution thingys’… and just where are we now?
Please do not misunderstand me here, I am not meaning to be smug about all of this as the situation has absolutely crippled this nation of Thai people – and many ‘resident’ expats – and things are very serious to say the least.
And the question: “Are things going to get worse for Thailand?” is lingering in all of our minds.
Now after ‘That Big Question’ and the proceeding history lesson how on earth do I get back to the editorial’s title, ‘Thailand’s Greatest Comeback’?
Well that’s easy! Just look back again at recent history. Remember the Bird Flu, SARS and what about the horrific Tsunami ... ‘salt and peppered’ with all those bona fide coups, wanna-be coups and then a string of coup-revolution thingys!
The most amazing and incredible ‘Thai Comeback’ for most of us was the December 2004 Tsunami that hit South East Asia, Sri Lanka and India.

Back on track
After such incredible devastation and loss of life, Phuket was coming back strong in a matter of months. Thais and foreign investors were rebuilding hotels, resorts and homes and even more amazing was that Thais and foreign investors were buying land, building new hotels, building new resorts and building new luxury homes and all property prices, across the board, were right back on track and climbing for Phuket at that time!
How often do we resident expats talk about the resilience of this nation. How often do we say ‘This Is Thailand’? How often do we speak of our amazement at how things just seem to keep ‘bouncing back’ here in the ‘Land Of Smiles’?
And ... that is exactly why I say we are now looking at ‘Thailand’s Greatest Comeback’.
We still have some extremely daunting issues looming ahead concerning the Thai government, Thai military and the Thai Royal family – and we are all hoping for the very best – and as soon as is possible!
What truly amazes me is that, even prior to ‘Thailand’s Greatest Comeback’, there is, right now, real estate business
out there.
I know of several (including myself!) veteran real estate brokers who worked over the Songkran Holiday, during and after the ‘Red Shirt’ protests here in Pattaya and I know of several ‘healthy’ property sales that were made during that same period of time.
There is still good business out there on the Eastern Seaboard as the positives here in Thailand still outweigh the negatives.
Now just think about what I just said. The positives here in Thailand still outweigh the negatives!

Lifestyle gold-mine
This wonderful country is a lifestyle ‘gold-mine’! As you have heard me say time and time again “Fabulous Weather! Fabulous Food! And Incredible People ... Khun Thai’!
And when I say ‘Incredible People ... Khun Thai’ I am not talking, necessarily, about the ‘rank and file’ Thai politicians and I am not talking about ‘Red Shirts’ or ‘Yellow Shirts’, no I am talking about the Thai people that you meet every day selling their crafts, selling their food and working in the countryside.
They are what makes ‘Thailand’s Greatest Comeback’ a sure thing in
my book.
So, whether ‘Thailand’s Greatest Comeback’ has already begun or we are going to face a few more ‘challenges’ ahead, things will get better and when they do, the tourists will come rushing back and many (MANY!) of those tourists will fall in love with Thailand, buy a condo or a house and not want to leave Thailand ... just like you and I! Ω

A little more about our columnist

Our thanks to Clayton Wade, managing director of Premier Homes Real Estate for preparing this ‘Eye On Pattaya’ report.
Clayton Wade has been running Premier Homes with his wife, Khun Supap for more than 12 years.
He has been in the industry for 22 years, having started his real estate career in the United States, where he was licensed to practise both real estate sales and property management in Seattle.
He was responsible for bringing in the first 53 General Motors executives for the ‘start up phase’ of Thailand’s General Motors manufacturing facility and had a three year exclusive deal with the company. Following that he placed most of the ‘start up’ executives for the Eastern Seaboard’s BMW manufacturing facility.
Clayton is known throughout the Asia-Pacific region for his writing, public speaking and television presentations.
His accomplishments in promoting Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard real estate industry include having been a guest speaker with several of Thailand’s top political and business figures on CNBC’s Managing Asia programme.
You can visit Premier Homes’ website at: www.premierinternational.com
Clayton Wade may be contacted by telephone at +66 (0)81-634-2915 or by email at: clayton@premierinternational.com