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Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Samui Property Market Diversifies with Condo and Villa Boom
Koh Samui, Thailand, August 13, 2025 - Koh Samui's residential property market is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by rapid expansion, diversified offerings, and intensifying competition in the rental sector. According to the newly released 2025 Samui Property Market Update by C9 Hotelworks, the island's property market—valued at THB30.3 billion—is transitioning from its traditional villa-centric model toward higher-density developments, especially condominiums, while adapting to evolving investment trends and rising international interest. Booming Supply Reshapes Market Dynamics A defining trend of Samui's current market is the sharp increase in the supply of independent villa rentals, which grew by 34% year-on-year as of January 2025. This influx of inventory has sparked price competition, pushing down average nightly rental rates by 11% year-on-year in Q1 2025 to THB13,012. However, despite these softer rates, occupancy rose by 5.7 percentage points to 71.5%, indicating resilient demand driven by the island's continued appeal among travellers seeking luxury and privacy. 'What sets Samui apart is its fundamentally strong hotel and property market,' says Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks. 'Compared to other Thai resort destinations where land prices have skyrocketed, Samui's relatively low land cost provides a compelling platform for competitively priced luxury villas—many of which offer spectacular ocean views.' At the same time, Samui's residential development pipeline is seeing a clear pivot toward larger-scale, high-density resort-style condominiums. Notable among these are two upcoming projects: Anava Samui (564 units) and Wing Samui (533 units), signalling a broader diversification of the island's residential offerings beyond traditional villas. These developments cater to a growing base of lifestyle buyers and investors looking for more affordable and manageable property options. Residential Supply and Submarket Trends The primary market now consists of 2,882 units across 117 projects. A commanding 70% of this inventory is located in Bophut—a central submarket encompassing Samui Airport and the popular Chaweng Beach. Bophut is followed by Maret (15%), Mae Nam (9%), and Ang Thong (3%). Condominiums now represent 52% of the total market supply, underscoring their growing dominance in the new development landscape. Villas or landed properties account for the remaining 48%, still holding a strong position but gradually yielding ground to vertical developments. From a price standpoint, condominiums have a median sales price of THB88,500 per square meter, while landed properties average THB60,600 per square meter. For a one-bedroom condominium (40–70 sqm), the median price is approximately THB3.5 million. Two-bedroom units (80–110 sqm) fetch THB7.2 million. Villas, on the other hand, command significantly higher prices, with three-bedroom units (250–350 sqm) averaging THB14.9 million. Competitive Villa Rental Market As of 2025, Samui's villa rental market comprises 3,055 properties, mainly managed by third-party operators. These villas typically serve dual purposes: personal holiday homes and income-generating investment properties. Two- and three-bedroom villas dominate the landscape, accounting for 21% and 31% of the market respectively. Larger villas with four or more bedrooms make up 31% of the supply, catering to extended families and group travelers. The villa rental market is highly seasonal, with occupancy dipping to 38.7% in September and peaking at 76.2% in February. The average length of stay hovers between four and five nights. Though rates have declined amid rising supply, the segment continues to appeal to higher-spending tourists who prefer privacy and exclusivity. Interestingly, while the average nightly rental rate fell to THB13,012 in Q1 2025, occupancy gains suggest a volume-driven strategy is bearing fruit for many operators. This trade-off points to a maturing market where profitability hinges on operational efficiency and strategic pricing. Bophut: Boutique Villas Meet High Demand One of Koh Samui's most in-demand villa submarkets is Bophut, where interest in boutique-style residential developments continues to grow. Projects in this area offer a compelling mix of elevated design, privacy, and proximity to key attractions like Fisherman's Village. New luxury villas in Bophut are tapping into the rising appeal of wellness-focused living and contemporary tropical aesthetics, underscoring the submarket's position as a magnet for lifestyle-oriented buyers. Market Value Distribution and Configuration Geographically, 85% of Samui's market value is concentrated in Bophut, Maret, and Mae Nam. This clustering highlights both the desirability and development maturity of these submarkets. Notably, oceanfront properties make up 631 units of the total supply, while branded residences account for 550 units, reflecting a growing interest in premium, lifestyle-oriented investments. By configuration, property prices scale with size. Villas with two bedrooms (150–250 sqm) are priced around THB12.2 million, while larger four-bedroom units (400–500 sqm) can exceed THB28.9 million. For condominium buyers, affordability and lifestyle amenities continue to be key selling points, with developers targeting foreign buyers and urban Thai investors alike. Outlook and Implications for Investors Samui's evolving real estate landscape presents a nuanced picture for investors and developers. The surge in supply—both in villas and condominiums—is creating downward pressure on pricing, especially in the short-term rental segment. However, this is being partially offset by rising demand, improved occupancy, and increased flight connectivity. Moreover, the emergence of large-scale condo projects marks a pivotal shift in Samui's residential positioning, making the island more accessible to a broader range of investors and second-home buyers. This structural change, coupled with the island's premium tourist positioning, suggests that Samui's real estate market is on the cusp of entering a new phase of volume-driven, diversified growth. Developers and investors must now navigate a more competitive, dynamic market where differentiation, location, and value-added services will be critical. With the right strategic approach, Samui continues to offer attractive opportunities in both capital appreciation and rental yield. As the island's infrastructure and international connectivity continue to improve, its real estate sector is poised to remain a focal point for both lifestyle buyers and institutional investors looking to tap into Southeast Asia's resort-driven residential markets.
Hospitality Net
11-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Koh Samui Shines as Thailand Challenged: Positive Tourism Performance Drives Island Growth: C9 Hotelworks report
KOH SAMUI, THAILAND - The Koh Samui hotel and tourism market is demonstrating solid growth through the first four months of 2025, supported by strong air and cruise arrivals, stable hotel performance metrics, and impressive European market engagement. From January to April 2025, Koh Samui International Airport recorded 1,127,832 passenger arrivals, representing a 9% increase over the same period in 2024. This follows a strong performance in 2024, which saw total air arrivals reach 2.78 million—an increase of 21% year-on-year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019 according to consulting group C9 Hotelworks newly released Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review 2025. Cruise tourism also contributed to overall growth. The island welcomed 35 cruise ships carrying 65,792 passengers in the first four months of 2025—a 6% year-on-year increase. In 2024, Samui hosted 50 cruise liners, nearly doubling the number of arrivals compared to the prior year. — Source: C9 Hotelworks Ltd. Koh Samui is increasingly attracting wellness-focused travelers who are contributing to a shift in the island's tourism profile. Properties such as Kamalaya continue to lead the way in capturing this segment, characterized by year-round visitation and longer average stays. We're seeing Thailand—and Samui in particular—benefiting from a global uptick in wellness tourism, which offers strong potential for sustainable, high-value growth in the hospitality sector. Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks Hotel sector performance remained resilient. Occupancy levels peaked in January 2025 with an 8% increase year-on-year. While there was some softening in Q1 during the Chinese New Year period, overall 2024 occupancy rose 12% compared to 2023. Average Daily Rate (ADR) continued to climb, with a 9% year-on-year increase in 2024 and a notable 21% year-on-year rise recorded in April 2025. — Source: C9 Hotelworks Ltd. Koh Samui's hotel performance in early 2025 reflects a steady and encouraging trend. We're seeing meaningful growth in both occupancy and average daily rates, signaling sustained demand in key source markets and a positive pricing environment. The market is not only recovering but also showing signs of structural stability, supported by disciplined supply growth and targeted international connectivity. Jesper Palmqvist, Area Director Asia Pacific at STR Europe remains the leading international source region, accounting for 56% of arrivals in 2024, driven by travelers from Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. Growth in these markets has been supported by expanded codeshare agreements between Bangkok Airways and 30 global carriers. Another boost to airlift is the Singapore Airlines Scoot service which not only services regional travelers but links into SQ's Lion City hub for long-haul passengers' easy transit. The long-haul market has performed exceptionally well for us this year. It's been a key strategic focus, and we're pleased to see that effort translating into strong results. Remko Kroesen, Area General Manager of Banyan Tree Samui and Banyan Tree Krabi The hotel development pipeline signals continued investor confidence. Koh Samui currently has 634 registered accommodation providers with 24,188 keys. While overall supply has remained stable with a five-year CAGR of 1%, new branded properties are scheduled to open in the near term, including Nivata Koh Samui (Tapestry Collection by Hilton, opening Q4 2025) and SO/ by Sofitel and Fivelements Samui (both expected in 2026). The pandemic challenged us to rethink luxury through safety, sustainability, and innovation. As travel rebounds, demand from both traditional and emerging markets continues to strengthen Koh Samui's position as a leading luxury destination. Thansita Sirapastuwanon, Director of Sales & Marketing at Centara Reserve Samui Speaking about the prospects though year-end, C9's Bill Barnett voiced optimism: Barring any external disruptions, sustained demand from European and Asian source markets, combined with limited new hotel supply and ongoing infrastructure investment, are expected to support continued growth in arrivals, hotel occupancy, and rates throughout the remainder of the year . To download and read C9 Hotelworks Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review 2025 report CLICK About C9 Hotelworks C9 Hotelworks is led by founder and Managing Director Bill Barnett, who brings over 30 years' experience in the Asian hospitality and real estate sectors. Prior to founding C9 in 2003, Bill held senior executive roles in hotel operations, development and asset management. He is considered to be a leading global authority on hotel residences, and has sat at almost every seat around the hospitality and real estate table. Bill promotes industry insight through regular conference presentations at key events and contributes to numerous industry publications. For more information contact Bill Barnett Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks +66 (0)8 1956 1802 C9 Hotelworks Ltd.
