Published on : Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Phuket as a destination has attracted visitors for years for its white sandy beaches, azure sea, its coral coves and lifestyle resorts, but recently the destination has added to its attraction by making wealthy tourists busy with shopping.
Phuket has plans of opening two multi-billion-baht retail developments by the end of the next year.
Shifting the trend from only the destination and adding greater interest, Phuket’s transformation from the beaches to luxury malls has helped the place to boost its tourism.
The island is already attracting more luxury tourists with luxury yachting facilities. Better flight connectivity is bringing high end visitors to this island for whom spending is not a problem as long as they get entertained with shopping and other luxury amenities.
According to a research conducted by C9 Hotelworks, shopping has become the second largest expenditure after accommodation by international visitors. One quarter of the total spending that a visitor makes goes into shopping with three out of every four tourists spending time in a mall during their stay.
With the launch of two projects by Thailand’s leading retailers, The Mall Group which is constructing Blu Pearl Plaza, a 20bn-baht retail and lifestyle center in central Kathu which will feature a waterpark, resort and an 8,000-seat conference and exhibition center.
Southern Thailand will be harbouring Central Retail Corporation’s, 300,000-square-meter center with an investment of 10bn baht. The complex will be a luxury retail outlet showcasing global fashion brands, a new dining concept for the island, entertainment facilities and a large-scale convention hall. The high end tourist seeks more from a destination than its scenic value.
High spending Europeans buy European antiques, contemporary furniture and home decor, as well as paintings and sculptures produced by local artists at crazy prices from about 30,000 to 80,000 baht and furniture ranging from 9,000 to 120,000 baht. Tourists from Europe are willing to spend any amount if they find any particular piece interesting and retailers at Phuket are making sure that they can maintain this demand. Shopping in Phuket has definitely gathered momentum among luxury travellers who find greater value in their holidays now from this picturesque island.
Tags: Destination News, lifestyle resorts, Lixiry destination news, phuket, Tourism News
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