WHY INDIANS ARE BUYING HOMES IN PHUKET

Q Indian buyers are now among your strongest customer groups. What do you think is driving this growing interest in luxury homes in Phuket?

India is now Thailand’s fastest growing major source market - 2.49 million visitors in 2025, up 17% year-on-year - and in Phuket, Indian arrivals overtook China for the first time this year. But beyond the tourism numbers, there is a real shift in mindset. India’s high-net-worth families are increasingly thinking globally about where they invest and where they live. Many have experienced Phuket through Banyan Tree or Angsana or have attended destination weddings and are now thinking about a second home here. The practical case makes it easy to act on that instinct. Direct flights from six Indian cities put Phuket just three to four hours away, with a 30-day visa exemption for Indian Nationals. The legal framework is clear - Indian buyers hold full freehold title with their name on the deed at the Thai Land Department - and funds can be remitted under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme, with family members able to pool allowances for higher-value purchases.

Q  Are Indian buyers mainly looking for a holiday home, a long-term lifestyle investment, or do they still focus on financial returns?

How has this changed in recent years? Today’s Indian buyers want all three, and unlike five years ago, they do not feel they have to choose. Rental yield still matters, and Phuket delivers it well through our Banyan Living platform - a professionally managed programme that generates real income for owners when they are not in residence, with none of the hassle of self-management. But the conversation has grown well beyond yield. Buyers are now thinking over a ten to twenty year horizon - a family home used a few months a year, earning income in between, and appreciating in value over time. The lifestyle and residency angle has also grown significantly, with many Indian buyers exploring Thailand’s Long-Term Resident Visa and Thailand Privilege Visa as part of a broader global lifestyle strategy. We facilitate the Thailand Elite Visa for qualifying purchasers as part of the buying process.

Q  What makes Phuket an attractive destination for Indian HNIs and UHNIs when they are exploring overseas real estate investments?

Value, infrastructure, and lifestyle. On value: USD 1 million buys 213 square metres in Phuket, versus 91 in Dubai, 33 in London, and 34 in New York. Dubai has historically been the default for Indian HNI overseas buyers, but it has become significantly more expensive. Phuket still represents outstanding value - and that window will not stay open indefinitely. On infrastructure: Phuket has internationally accredited hospitals, international schools, over 80 global air connections, and a fully developed international services sector. It is a place where families can genuinely live well, not just holiday well. And within Laguna Phuket specifically, buyers access over 1,000 acres of resort estate on Bang Tao Beach - six hotels, a championship golf course, RAVA Beach Club (Thailand’s longest and largest beachfront private club), spas, diverse dining, an on-estate kindergarten - all within a 24-hour-secured community. Phuket today also has internationally accredited hospitals, multiple international schools offering British, American and IB curricula, direct air connectivity to over 80 cities worldwide, and a retail and dining environment that rivals any global city. For Indian UHNI families used to the world’s best hotels, finding that level of integrated service available in a private home is a very different and compelling proposition.

Q  Many Indian investors are becoming more global in their investment approach. How is Banyan Group adapting its offerings to meet the expectations of this audience?

Primarily through product range and service. For investment-focused buyers, our hotel-linked residences and Banyan Living platform provide institutionally managed rental returns, while owners who prioritise privacy can choose residences with no rental obligations. Indian buyers increasingly want both options available to them, and we offer both. On service: we have teams who guide buyers through every step - from navigating the LRS remittance process to connecting them with experienced India-Thailand legal and tax advisors. We also make sure buyers understand the full value of Sanctuary Club membership, which gives access to benefits across 100 Banyan Group resorts in 20+ countries. For Indian families who travel widely across Asia and beyond, that global network adds genuine, tangible value.

Q  You mentioned that most buyers hold their properties for the long term. How does this shape the overall stability and growth of Phuket’s luxury residential market?

It creates a fundamentally stable market. When buyers are genuinely committed to a place - building a home and a community connection rather than speculating – inventory is held, capital is patient, and prices reflect real demand rather than investor cycles. At Laguna Phuket, we have over 4,000 owners from 80+ countries, many in their second generation of ownership and some part of the community for twenty or thirty years. That depth is what makes the estate feel like a real home rather than a holiday complex. At market level, the results speak for themselves: Phuket luxury residential sales have grown fivefold versus pre-pandemic levels, driven by genuine long-term demand. That is the foundation of a market buyers can invest in with real confidence - sustainable growth underpinned by people who love being here.

Q  India is an important market for Banyan Group today. Beyond attracting Indian buyers to Phuket, do you see opportunities to expand your hospitality or real estate presence in India in the coming years?

India is a market we watch closely and take seriously. The growth of India’s HNI and UHNI population, the rising appetite for premium branded experiences, and the increasingly global outlook of Indian consumers all point to a significant long-term opportunity. Banyan Group already has strong brand recognition in India built over decades of Indian guests staying at our hotels, and that is a real asset to build on. The qualities that define our brand - genuine respect for local culture, uncompromising service, and long-term commitment to the communities we work in - are qualities that resonate strongly in India, where authenticity matters as much as international prestige. As we map our global expansion, markets with India’s scale and ambition are very much in our thinking.