Foreigners 'own 90% Of Phuket Beach Land'

[chiangmaibruce]

Thanks for providing the link to the report Churchill. It is painfully difficult to read but it does give you a feel for the nature of the report.

In particular its narrow terms of reference, its starting point of negative assumptions about foreign ownership of land, its lack of any statistics or citation of other related reports, its negative assumptions about the value of tourism, and its amazing tunnel vision concerning related mismanagement or wrong-doing by Thais (whether that be tax evasion, corrupt conduct, etc etc).

It seems to infer that ALL ownership of land by Thai wives of foreigners constitutes farang holding land via a nominee. It also seems to confuse usufructs with leases, stating in one section that usufructs can only be a maximum of 30 years.

What the Thai Government needs is a broader and unbiased study that looks at the strengths, weaknesses and justification for the existing system of managing land sale/subdivision etc - this taking in all land transactions and not just those involving foreigners.

[PatinBKk]

the Thais hate foreigners full stop.

Not the Thais, but, the people who own and run this country.......the Chinese.

absolutley

[samILO]

About 90% of beach land in Phuket is controlled by foreigners through Thai nominees, a leading research body has found.

A similar situation exists in other prime tourism destinations in provinces such as Chiang Mai and Rayong.

Local officials and legal experts have helped clear the way for foreign investors to take control of the country's rice farms and property in resort provinces, according to research on foreign land ownership by the Thailand Research Fund.

TRF called a seminar on the research findings yesterday attended by economics and legal scholars. continued ...About 90% of beach land in Phuket is controlled by foreigners through Thai nominees, a leading research body has found.

continued ...http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/22577/foreigners-own-90-of-phuket-beach-land

-- Bangkok Post 24/08/09

Anybody actually seen the report..... if not take a look at: http://www.thephuketinsider.com/real_estat...fund-report.php

[stevenl]

Anybody actually seen the report..... if not take a look at: http://www.thephuketinsider.com/real_estat...fund-report.php

Yes, thanks. That link was given here a bit earlier already BTW.

[barky]

Well I think foreingers should be given an enoumous thank you by all Thais especially those that live on coastal areas in Pukhett and along the Andaman Sea as these westeners have created a barrier against the next tsunami and they will sacrifice themselves and be washed away first.

Thus, protecting Thais from death and disaster.

God bless those westeners!

Edited August 26, 2009 by barky

[harleyclarkey]

I was under the impression nobody (Thai or foreigner) could own beach land as it belongs to the King of Thailand.

As for the land which is adjacent to the beach, I'm sure we farang own less than 1% of it. The Chinese are huge landowners, but not sure what proportion of them are also Thai citizens.

The headline really should read 'beach front land'

you're right. And wrong!

H.M. the King does indeed own the land up to the high water mark. If the land is Chanote, there will be a Chanote post driven into the ground at the high water mark. Anything behind that mark can be bought and sold. Anything between the mark and the sea belongs to the King and can't be developed, bought or sold.

Interesting. What happens if sea levels rise as expected...due to whatever.....and you find your high water marker post a long long way further out than when you bought??

[F1fanatic]

Isn't that the truth. Every Thai I've ever talked to about this matter is all for foreign investment to help develop Thailand. I personally haven't come across one who's said "We're selling off our country to the foreigners!"

No, but then again I never told a foreigner in my home country that "We're selling off our country to the foreigners!" - but I certainly thought it (at the time it was Arabs buying large parts of London) and the opinion was expressed frequently by many people! Consequently I can understand the Thai's concern that they want Thailand owned by Thais.

There is one hel_l of a difference between "foreign investment to help develop Thailand" and selling Thai land to wealthy foreigners to build a house!

A tiny minority of Thais benefit from the sale of land to foreigners whilst the majority don't benefit (nothing new there), but everyone needs a scapegoat and foreigners are always a good target - in every country. It rouses patriotic instincts wonderfully, whilst deflecting opinion from many other problems!!

[LivinginKata]

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Phuket governor responds to explosive land claim

Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop.

PHUKET CITY: The governor of Phuket, Wichai Phraisa-ngop, on Tuesday responded to explosive claims by a Thai research body that foreigners own 90 percent of the island's beach land.

The Thailand Research Foundation announced the results of its research into land ownership at a seminar attended by economics and law scholars last week.

The Bangkok Post quoted Siriporn Sajjanont, a member of the research team from the economics faculty at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, as saying foreigners controlled 90 percent of land along the coastline of Phuket through Thai nominees.

The claims have caused a furor in the Thai media, following reports that businessmen in the Middle East were snapping up rice farms in other parts of Thailand using local proxy companies.

Questioned by the media at a ceremony to give out scholarships to students at Phuket City Municipality offices, Gov Wichai refused to confirm or deny the 90 percent claim.

The governor nevertheless conceded that foreigners were exploiting legal loopholes in order to gain control of Phuket's land.

"One way to own property is through a business registered as a juristic person," Gov Wichai said.

"As long as Thai people own 51 percent or more of the company and foreigners 49 percent or less, that's legally permissible.

"The Thais are then transferring their shares to the foreigners after the transaction is complete, so the foreigners get 100 percent control of the land."

Gov Wichai said the government was drafting new laws to prevent this from happening.

Foreigners were also marrying Thais in order to own businesses to purchase property, he said.

"The law doesn't allow foreigners to own land and property, except for condos, so they're finding Thai husbands and wives," he said.

"Sometimes they even use fake marriage documents," Gov Wichai added.

The governor said that Phuket authorities were carrying out stringent checks to find out whether the money to buy land was coming from Thais or foreigners.

"If marriage licenses are fake or Thai nominees are used but the money used to buy the property isn't coming from Thai people, we won't let them buy property. In the past, many people have been refused permission to buy property in Phuket." he said.

The governor expressed concern that foreigners were renting farmland in other parts of Thailand.

"Outside Phuket, we have to worry about people from the Middle East leasing our farmland. They can rent it for 30 years and can extend the lease two more times – that's a very long time," he said. – Atchaa Khamlo

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-27

[Marksamui]

Anyone else find these on going land issues boring now?

I mean over the past 2-3 months there has been blowups in the press one day and then next day someone else says no problem.

Someone claims 90% of beach land owned by farangs. Next day land dept says it's all owned by Thai.

Next day some governor says loopholes are being exploited, oh boy really! Next he makes amazing claim that 30 years is along time!!

But in all the only thing is either you remaining owning 49% of the company or you actually get married not buy a fake document. Apart from that it is all legal........There is no news in this story...

[harleyclarkey]

Isn't it just great? This guy and all of his shameful ilk can come over here...Europe/America/etc,...and buy what ever his little heart desires in property. He can engage a trusted lawyer and then it comes with the full and guaranteed protection of the law. He can take whatever profit he can make, pay his tax (if any)....and bugg*r off home with his mitts full of lovely Euro or Dollars.

We really are dopes over her to allow this. Reciprocal rights is the way to go. My guess is there would be a change pretty quick as the guys at the top are the only ones able to afford foreign property.

Edited August 27, 2009 by harleyclarkey

[churchill]

"Foreigners were also marrying Thais in order to own businesses to purchase property, he said.

"The law doesn't allow foreigners to own land and property, except for condos, so they're finding Thai husbands and wives," he said."

I cannot believe anyone would marry a Thai just to purchase land - Where does this information ? come from .

[Felt 35]

PHUKET CITY: The governor of Phuket, Wichai Phraisa-ngop, on Tuesday responded to explosive claims by a Thai research body that foreigners own 90 percent of the island's beach land.

The Thailand Research Foundation announced the results of its research into land ownership at a seminar attended by economics and law scholars last week.

The Bangkok Post quoted Siriporn Sajjanont, a member of the research team from the economics faculty at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, as saying foreigners controlled 90 percent of land along the coastline of Phuket through Thai nominees.

The claims have caused a furor in the Thai media, following reports that businessmen in the Middle East were snapping up rice farms in other parts of Thailand using local proxy companies.

Questioned by the media at a ceremony to give out scholarships to students at Phuket City Municipality offices, Gov Wichai refused to confirm or deny the 90 percent claim.

The governor nevertheless conceded that foreigners were exploiting legal loopholes in order to gain control of Phuket's land.

"One way to own property is through a business registered as a juristic person," Gov Wichai said.

"As long as Thai people own 51 percent or more of the company and foreigners 49 percent or less, that's legally permissible.

"The Thais are then transferring their shares to the foreigners after the transaction is complete, so the foreigners get 100 percent control of the land."

Gov Wichai said the government was drafting new laws to prevent this from happening.

Foreigners were also marrying Thais in order to own businesses to purchase property, he said.

"The law doesn't allow foreigners to own land and property, except for condos, so they're finding Thai husbands and wives," he said.

"Sometimes they even use fake marriage documents," Gov Wichai added.

The governor said that Phuket authorities were carrying out stringent checks to find out whether the money to buy land was coming from Thais or foreigners.

"If marriage licenses are fake or Thai nominees are used but the money used to buy the property isn't coming from Thai people, we won't let them buy property. In the past, many people have been refused permission to buy property in Phuket." he said.

The governor expressed concern that foreigners were renting farmland in other parts of Thailand.

"Outside Phuket, we have to worry about people from the Middle East leasing our farmland. They can rent it for 30 years and can extend the lease two more times – that's a very long time," he said. – Atchaa Khamlo

Not very comforting point of view for the foreigners who have or plan to invest millions in a retirement home or business here whatever way they do it!

[sheasie]

QUESTION: Does anyone know (or have a guess) about the percentage of Thai people who actually own land...? What percentage of Thai people own land?

Just curious...

[LivinginKata]

QUESTION: Does anyone know (or have a guess) about the percentage of Thai people who actually own land...? What percentage of Thai people own land?

Just curious...

A 2 year old topic brought back to life.

Maybe today's PG article sparked your interest ....

Your question is hard to answer as technically only Thais and Thai registered companies can legally own land. Perhaps you are asking about land 'controlled' by foreigners by virtue of leases or other legal methods. I have no idea about the true answer. The PG article reporting a claim of 90% seems far far too high to me.

[Daffy D]

"everyone needs a scapegoat and foreigners are always a good target - in every country. It rouses patriotic instincts wonderfully, whilst deflecting opinion from many other problems!!

Yep! the Robert Mugabe strategy.

[seriouseats]

Id love to see this go through..

Kick off hilton and all the big companies..

Then we will laugh our ass off when thailand dies after some of the biggest company of the world decide to crush them into obvlion.

Beachfront land owned by foreigners, are owned by the biggest companies in the world and they actually give better jobs/salaries to thais than they would get if thais owned them.

[Ping]

In 2009, an exercise was conducted which found that this claim (of 90% foreign oqwnership) was patently untrue. Little has changed since then.

(Sorry - not allowed to quote the source.)

[crazymoon]

S..t now the purchaser farang shd be worried about it!!! What instead people made a long term commercial lease 30 years or more?If in this case the land lease is made by land office (hope that mean safe lease) is there any problem about it?Is not like a bought land isn't?Thanks for the answer buddies can clarify my mind

[crazymoon]

ho