News

World's most dangerous tourist attraction

Catherine Deshayes — 14/01/2010 11:08:00

Desperate for an adrenaline rush, visitors are flocking to the site of one of the world's most active volcanoes - and risking their lives in the process - so just what is it about these danger zones that prove such a pull for the punters?...

The Mayon Volcano in the Philippines has been slowly erupting for the past two weeks and locals have been advised to steer clear. The majority of the villagers living in its foothills -some 50,000 people - have been evacuated.

But, whilst one lot of people head away from the danger, another group edge ever closer. In a bid to get close to the spectacular flow of lava emanating from the volcano, thousands of tourists have entered the area and local hotels are fit to bursting. More than 2,400 visitors are flocking into Mayon in Albay Province each day to watch the lava flowing from the volcano.

The volcano is located in southern Luzon Philippines and accessible by land, sea and air travel. Flying time from Manila to Legaspi airport in Albay where the volcano is located is approximately one hour.

The Mayon volcano, famed for its near-perfect cone, has had 24-hour security patrols for the past few weeks trying to keep adrenaline junkies away from the eight kilometre danger zone surrounding the volcano. But, some visitors are so keen to experience the lava up close and personal that they are evading the patrols - and risking their lives in the process.

The authorities are right to try and hammer home the danger of what these tourists are doing - the volcano, which lies 200 miles south-east of Manila, has erupted 48 times since 1616, most destructively in 1814, when an entire town was buried and 2,200 people died.

Joey Salceda, the governor of Albay province, which includes Mayon, said. "There are enough thrill-seekers, and when you combine them with some enterprising local guides, they find their way in.

"Although the lava is advancing slowly at present, volcanic ash could combine with rainwater to form a lethal, fast-moving mud-flow. At the moment of the eruption, the local guides will have a better chance of getting out. The hapless tourist will be left behind," he said.

Check out property for sale in the Philippines at http://philippines.themovechannel.com/

Picture by Sir Mervus

Precious jewel

Catherine Deshayes — 07/11/2008 09:43:00

Ever dreamt of owning your own private island? Now you can- the unspoilt private island of Cacao Pearl in Palawan in the Philippines will soon be open and operated as a 100 per cent carbon neutral eco-resort...

With a pristine archipelago of 1,780 islands, Palawan is home to 2000km of coastline, two World Heritage sites and four marine reserves offering some of the finest diving.

Cacao Pearl provides the opportunity to be part of an incredible private island eco community in the stunning nature reserve of Palawan.

Steeped in cultural and natural heritage, the region has been classed as a biosphere which boasts over 52 sunken World War II vessels, along with some of the East's most diverse sea life.

Cacao Pearl is a 47 hectare private tropical island that is home to coconut palms, papaya trees, tropical rainforests and three km of dramatic coastline and coral that will be sensitively developed into a boutique eco-resort of 100 villas.

Located in a natural safe haven protected from extreme weather in an earthquake free region and away from the typhoon belt, the majority of the island will remain untouched to enable its guests to experience its natural charm through a variety of activities.

The National Geographic Traveller magazine rated Palawan as the best island destination in South-East Asia for 2007 and 13th in the world.

Ben Jefferis of Property Frontiers said, "It is one of the most un-spoilt destinations I have ever come across.

"The potential for investment is only just being realized by a couple of very high end boutique hotels.

"With the expansion of the local airport to international standard and its collection of world class dive sites, the area will expand from its traditional backpacker and diving roots to a major global attraction. Eventually it will be on par with the Caribbean.

"Its world heritage status and strict planning laws will also see this done in a sustained and well managed way, ensuring long term demand and high yields," added Mr Jefferis.

"We all will have dreamt of owning our own private island, but dismissed it as out of our reach. Imagine the opportunity to do just that - own your own slice of paradise and enjoy genuine relaxation whilst seeing an outstanding financial return.

For those looking for more relaxing pursuits, the Cacao Pearl resort will offer all of the spa and wellness facilities you would associate with a world-class resort, whilst existing in total harmony with the environment though carbon neutral design.

With the upgrade of Busuanga Airport to welcome direct international flights and with the entrance of global hotel operator Banyan Tree to the market, Palawan's secret will not be kept for long.

Access to all of the major regional hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai will see high demand and therefore rental income potential grow.

With unparalleled launch prices, net yields comfortably in excess of 12 per cent and offering exceptional opportunity for growth, this is a hugely exciting prospect.

Properties

Each villa will be set in a plot of 800-1400 square metres ensuring guests have the utmost privacy in each of the five distinct island locations, whether you choose to be right on the beachfront or in the rainforest gardens.

There are two villa designs to choose from - Vega Residences and Sinan Residences - both of which are available with one or two bedrooms and delivered with all the latest technology. One bedroom luxuriously furnished villas start from £120,000 and two bedroom villas from £148,000.

In addition, 100 per cent of the resort's net operating profits will be distributed through a foundation into the hands of local community programmes.

Plus, with net yields to owners in excess of 12 per cent easily achievable at the resort, Cacao Pearl is a socially responsible opportunity for the astute investor.

Cacao Pearl also offers a garden café, organic restaurant and bar, infinity pool, rock pools and pool bar, film screening room, wi-fi access, cliff-edge spa, fitness centre and numerous watersports, from sailing and surfing to diving and game fishing.

To find out more about Cacao Pearl, contact: www.propertyfrontiers.com/ or call 01865 202700.

A pearl in the ocean

Catherine Deshayes — 30/10/2008 11:01:00

Situated in the rapidly developing ‘Caribbean of Asia,' Cacao Pearl in Palawan in the Philippines is an unspoilt private island which will be operated as a 100 per cent carbon neutral eco-resort...

Palawan, an archipelago of over 1,700 tropical islands, is a pristine and undeveloped region with only a few exclusive luxury resorts.

Its ‘get away from it all' appeal and high class diving opportunities are attracting increasing numbers of tourists each year and it is fast becoming an eco-tourism hotspot.

With the Busuanga airport being upgraded to cater for international flights, the northern region of Palawan is starting to grab the attention of major hotel chains such as Banyan Tree Holdings, who are set to invest an estimated £43 million in a range of hotels in the region - their first of which is due to open in 2011.

The Cacao Pearl is a 47 hectare private tropical island that is home to coconut palms, papaya trees, tropical rainforests and three km of dramatic coastline and coral that will be sensitively developed into a boutique eco-resort of 100 villas.

The majority of the island will remain untouched to enable its guests to experience its natural charm through a variety of activities, whilst also offering the utmost comfort and relaxation with a spa area, restaurants and bars, all whilst being 100 per cent carbon neutral.

Location

With a pristine archipelago of 1,780 islands, Palawan is home to 2000km of coastline, two World Heritage sites and four marine reserves offering some of the finest diving.

It is located in a natural safe haven protected from extreme weather in an earthquake free region and away from the typhoon belt.

The National Geographic Traveller magazine rated Palawan as the best island destination in South-East Asia for 2007 and 13th in the world.

Palawan is also within easy reach of many major Asian hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila and Shanghai and, with the Government plans to upgrade two airports to accept international flights - Puerto Princesa City airport in the south and Busuanga airport in the north - travel to the region will be easier and more attractive to international visitors.

Properties

Pre-launch opportunity exclusive to Property Frontiers - only 100 units in total.

There are two villa designs to choose from - Vega Residences and Sinan Residences - both of which are available with one or two bedrooms and delivered with all the latest technologyOne bedroom luxuriously furnished villas start from £120,000 and two bedroom villas from £148,000.

Cacao Pearl Island is being sustainably developed and run as a completely carbon-neutral resort, protecting the natural environment and using solely replaceable and recyclable materials.

In addition, 100 per cent of the resort's net operating profits will be distributed through a foundation into the hands of local community programmes.

Plus, with net yields to owners in excess of 12 per cent easily achievable at the resort, Cacao Pearl is a socially responsible opportunity for the astute investor.

To find out more about Cacao Pearl, contact: www.propertyfrontiers.com or call 01865 202700.

And the world's best building is...

Catherine Deshayes — 27/10/2008 12:38:00

The first ever World Building of the Year Award winner has been announced, beating off more than 700 other entries from 63 countries...

You may well wonder what a Spanish rubbish dump, the Royal Danish Yacht Club and a Japanese Dental Clinic have in common.

I'll put you out of your misery- they were all shortlisted for the first ever World Building of the Year Award, which celebrates architectural prowess.

Entries consisted of buildings that were new, restored, rehabilitated or converted and completed between January 1st, 2007 and June 20th, 2008.

Paul Finch, Editor of The Architectural Review and Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards, said that the most significant building in the world in any given year was not necessarily one of the most high-profile.

"It could be that a primary school in Glasgow or a small church in Peru is actually the building doing most to alter the way we think about the building type," he said.

In the end, Dublin based Grafton Architects' new faculty building at Milan's Luigi Bocconi Free University grabbed gold at the awards in Barcelona.

The University dates back from 1902 and has grown in the past 100 years from a privately funded institution to an international university for business, economics and law.

The campus now comprises an entire neighbourhood within a residential and commercial district.

The winning faculty building contains new conference and lecture rooms, auditorium and research offices for 1000 professors and postgraduate students.

Pic: Bocconi Free University's new faculty building

The 722 entries were split into different categories according to the building's purpose, ranging from learning, civic, culture, shopping, sport and pleasure. The winning building fell into the ‘learning' category.

Each of the categories chose a winner, and then the overall winner was deemed the ‘World's Best Building for 2008.'

The aforementioned Spanish rubbish dump, (which had been transformed into a green terraced agricultural landscape) won the Energy, Waste and Recycling category.

The judging panel, which was headed up by Robert Stern, who replaced Sir Norman Foster at the last minute after one of his designs made it to the final, was looking for ‘architecture that thought about complex issues in an imaginative way.'

The ‘totally 3D' building was chosen as the overall winner as it ‘fitted within the urban landscape but still stood out.'

Mr Stern said, "The use of space, light and local materials captured the essence of the city and the desire of the university to be connected with its surroundings.

"We were impressed by the building's physical and conceptual density," he added.

The new faculty building will have its official opening later this week.

Picture by pontuse

Stop searching! New SEO service is here!

Catherine Deshayes — 27/10/2008 11:19:00

Now is the time to get your website ready for the New Year revival, with TheMoveChannel.com offering an SEO service designed to help you plan and implement the right strategy to attract more buyers when the market bounces...

We all know that things are quiet right now and it's tough to justify dipping into the pockets to spend money.

But once Christmas is out of the way, interest levels will surge - they always do.

The chart above shows search volume trends for property terms over the last three years.

It's clear that the overseas property market is highly seasonal and tails off during the final quarter, with activity jumping sharply as January gets out of the way.

Act Now or Miss Out

Investment returns from SEO are probably the highest of all marketing activities right now - pound for pound, euro for euro, or dollar for dollar, nothing else can deliver you leads as cheaply as ranking number one for a relevant term.

But achieving those results takes an initial investment and results don't happen overnight, so it's no use waiting until the New Year to make sure your SEO strategy is in place.

The Solution

Good SEO companies are hard to find, particularly with knowledge of the property sector.

The SEO service from TheMoveChannel.com is a strategic solution that builds on nearly 10 years of Internet market experience in the international property industry.

Thus, it delivers genuine insight and real long term value.

For a fixed fee of £2950, we will conduct a 5-stage Review plan, which covers the following:

Property Product Review

Website SWOT Analysis

Keyword Universe Creation

Optimal Phrase Selection

Competition Assessment

This would lead to a series of recommendations and an SEO Implementation Plan, which covers:

On Site Recommendations

Link Building Strategies & Tactics

At this point, you can then either commission us to put the plan into action, or implement it internally.

Depending on the scope and extent of work to be done, we work to budgets of £500, £1000, £2000, or £5000 for the initial implementation plan, with the same figures for ongoing work if this is also required.

Call Us Now to Book the Service

If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, please call TheMoveChannel.com on +44 (0)207 952 7658 or contact Marketing Manager Jon Moore on j.moore@themovechannel.com

Real estate boom to continue in ’12

admin — 15/11/2011 05:32:00

The real estate boom that the country has been experiencing these past few years is expected to continue through 2012, according to real estate advisory firm CB Richard Ellis Philippines.

The company said the surge in property transactions over the years was due to the expansion of the business process outsourcing sector.

CBRE Philippines chairman Rick Santos said the BPO sector would continue to fuel the growth of real estate, not only in the office space segment, but also in the residential market.

“All eyes will be towards the Philippines as the desirable ‘live, play, and work environment’ this side of the globe,” Santos said during a recent briefing.

Source: Business.Inquirer.net

Philippines raises tax thresholds on home sales

admin — 10/11/2011 06:01:00

The Philippino Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) upped its VAT thresholds this week on residential land and property transactions.

The trigger point for the sale of land and houses - and for lease-deals on dwelling units which are exempt from value-added tax (VAT) payments - were both increased at the weekend.

The VAT threshold for residential land has gone up from PP1.5 million to P1,919,500 and from P2.5 million to P3,199,200 for a plot with a house built on it.

According to the new revenue regulations No. 16- 2011, signed by Revenue Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares, transactions below these new prices are no longer viable for VAT.

Source: OPP.org.uk

Video: Paris Hilton launches Philippine real estate

admin — 23/08/2011 05:02:00

Paris Hilton has launched a beach club in the Philippines.

The millionaire has ventured into the real estate market, meeting with a developer in Manila to design a new a beach club.

"Real estate runs in my blood," commented Hilton during her visit to the Philippines. "My great grandfather started the Hilton hotel chain, and created his own legacy, and that's what I'm doing now."

Watch the full video report on TheMoveChannel.tv.

Dwarves in Philippines plan to build colony where they can live in peace

admin — 03/08/2011 05:04:00

With his jet-black hair, golden skin and hazel eyes, Alejandro Doron Jr is the sort of man who regularly stops people in their tracks. He may be good-looking, but he knows why people stare. He's small – 117cm (3ft 10in) small, in fact.

As one of Manila's many unanos or dwarves, Doron hopes to end the harassment he faces daily by starting the Philippines' very first little people colony.

The 35-year-old bartender works at Manila's only "dwarf bar", the Hobbit House, where he and his colleagues, ranging in height from 76cm to 135cm, serve tourists Hefeweizen beer and New York ribeye steaks, as dwarf comedians and Elvis impersonators perform on stage.

Just a 10-minute drive away, in the red light district of Makati, other dwarves don gold-and-black Speedos to perform in oil wrestling matches. Still others undress for fascinated sex tourists.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Philippines launches nuclear tourism

admin — 27/06/2011 11:38:00

In a fresh but ambiguous take on ecotourism, travellers in the Philippines can visit a remote turtle sanctuary and then venture into the heart of a nearby nuclear power plant.

If tourists feel too weary to make the three-hour bus drive back to Manila after their unique day of sightseeing, they can stay at a guesthouse overlooking pristine South China Sea waters at the atomic site's private beach.

This tour-with-a-difference is part of the government's latest effort to make use of the idle Bataan Nuclear Power Plant - one of the country's most expensive and troublesome burdens.

"This will be the only tourist-friendly nuclear power plant in this part of the world," Dennis Gana, spokesman for state-owned power firm Napocor that runs the site, said over a lunch of barbecued tuna steaks and chicken at the beach.

Source: Relax News

Philippines terrorist threat prompts travel warning

admin — 16/06/2011 07:56:00

When the U.S. Department of State issues a travel warning related to terrorism its serious business. Concerned about the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world, its a reminder that terrorism can occur anywhere.

"Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death" the department of state said in the warning.

Indeed, the Philippines have a long history of terrorist activities with hundreds killed in bombings and other attacks by Islamic extremists. The Philippines has also been called the "Kidnapping Capital of Asia", with kidnap-for-ransom establishing itself as a popular and lucrative business for the Philippine underworld. But the latest focus on terrorism in the Philippines may stem from a fear of Islamist militant groups that may be plotting attacks to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden last month in Pakistan.

That should be plenty of reasons for caution when thinking of travel to the Philippines. Tourism officials in the Philippines, unlike their Mexican counterparts, have been silent so far but law enforcement officials downplay the US travel warning.

Source: Gadling.com

Philippines 'open skies' move to make tourism cheaper

admin — 06/06/2011 12:08:00

The Philippines’ recent policy to spur competition among international airlines will lead to a general reduction of tourism costs there, the country’s tourism secretary said.

“Our new President (Benigno Aquino III) introduced an ‘open skies’ policy to promote competition among airlines by allowing more airlines to come in so that prices can go down,” Alberto Aldaba Lim, Secretary of Department of Tourism of the Philippines, told The Korea Herald.

Lim visited Seoul over the weekend to participate in the Korea World Travel Fair, which gathered more than 480 tourism-related organizations and companies from 60 countries in COEX in southern Seoul through Sunday.

There are some 20 regular and chartered flights from Korea to the Philippines each day, including flights from Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. “The Civil Aeronautics Board has recently granted new permits to Korean carriers such as Air Busan, Jeju Air and Jin Air,” he said.

Source: Relax News

5 year rent guarantee for Manila condo hotel

admin — 27/05/2011 07:32:00

Pacific Concord Properties Inc recently launched Guaranteed Rental Income Investment Suites for their Lancaster Atrium Condotel development, located along Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila. Philippines.

Beth Collingz, PLC International Marketing Networks Director for Overseas Sales and Lead Marketing Partners with Pacific Concord Properties., owner and developer of the Lancaster Brand of Condotels in the Philippines said the Lancaster Atrium Guaranteed Rental Income units come fully furnished, fully fitted to condotel standards with a guaranteed minimum rental income of –Pph-600/sqm per month for 5 years which represents a 6% ROI on the unit purchase depending upon the terms of payment selected by the buyer.

One of the most popular units are the Lancaster Atrium Premiere Furnished Condotel Studio Suites, which have a floor area of around 350 square feet and which can be purchases on one hundred percent finance over 3 years for around £50,000. The Lancaster Hotel is now offering a 5 year minimum 6% rental guarantee for all studio suites in the condo hotel.

The Lancaster Atrium Manila will provide unit owners with premier residential condo units with option of enrolling their units in the Lancaster Condotel Rental Pool.

Source: Lancaster Suites Condotels

Philippines moves up World Bank investment ratings

admin — 16/02/2011 10:17:00

If you are thinking about investing in the Philippines you'll be pleased to hear that the World Bank has ranked the Philippines as one of the world's 10 most improved economies in facilitating trade and investment across borders.

The Philippines has improved 7 places in the last year alone from 68 to 61 in the World Bank's rankings for trading across borders (out of 183 economies). It takes for example an average of 21 days in the Philippines to obtain a construction permit whilst the regional average stands at 45 days.

The government of the Philippines is continuing its effort to improve conditions for international investors. One such measure has been to draw up a 'Magna Carta' for investors, designed to protect the rights of people investing in the Philippines. According to the Department of Trade and Industry this bill is likely to be finalised and passed early next year.

The government is actively encouraging foreign investment in a variety of industries including energy, technology and tourism. Special TIEZA's (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority) have been created to provide incentives for international investors. Some of these include tax and duty free importation of capital investment, equipment and transportation.

Source: Experience International

Philippines pulls latest online ad

Catherine Deshayes — 21/11/2010 18:19:00

The Philippines says it pulled its latest online tourism campaign after critics panned the rebrand and warned that unwary surfers could easily end up at a porn site instead...

The site, www.beautifulpilipinas.com, was taken down on Tuesday, just a day after it was launched by the tourism department to much fanfare, said Evelyn Macayayong, interim head of the ministry's tourist information office.

The campaign featured a candy-coloured logo including the slogan, a coconut tree, an endangered primate called a tarsier, the sun and waves.

Critics panned the decision to use the local spelling of the country's name, warning that a similar site, with a spelling only two letters different, was pornographic.

Some called for the country's eight-year-old tourism slogan, "Wow Philippines", to be brought back.

Posts on networking sites about the "Pilipinas Kay Ganda" (Philippines What a Beauty) website described it as "bland," and "lacking punch".

"The writeups were not thoroughly edited. There were errors, and there are even allegations of plagiarism," admitted the tourism office's Macayayong.

Filipino tourism industry pundit Ivan Henares wrote on his popular tourism blog, "Ivan About Town": "I can't understand why (we) want to get rid of a brand our country has worked so hard to build and invested so much money on."

In response, Macayayong referred AFP to Tourism Minister Alberto Lim's speech at Monday's launch.

"It is a radical departure from what our neighbours are doing, and to the faint of heart, a bit risky," Lim had said, defending the rebranding as a result of market research conducted by an unnamed major advertising firm.

Macayayong said she could not say when a revised version of the new website would be back up.

The Philippines has been struggling to shake off its image as an unsafe destination after a botched police rescue of foreign tourists seized in a bus by a dismissed policeman in August that left eight Hong Kong residents dead.

The ministry said in a statement that tourist arrivals in the eight months to August were up 15 per cent from a year earlier to 2.3 million.

Lim said he was confident the ministry would attain its full-year target of 3.3 million arrivals, from just over three million in 2009, even though the government expects some fallout from the hostage fiasco.

"Even if we incur a slowdown in the months following the hostage-taking incident, we are optimistic that November and December figures will be on the rebound as historical peak periods," Lim added.

Source: AFP

Cash-strapped Philippines ask for airport terminal

Catherine Deshayes — 23/08/2010 07:31:00

The cash-strapped Philippines said it will call on the private sector to help build up to six airport terminals as it bids to boost the country's finances through increased tourism...  

With the government needing to create jobs to ease widespread poverty while faced with a huge budget deficit for at least the next two years, tourism could become a key economic driver, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.  

"This is one of the low-hanging opportunities that's almost there, except we need to build the infrastructure so tourists can get to tourist attractions and we can become a major tourist market," he told reporters.  

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim said the government could attract businesses using "build-operate-transfer" -- where a private group builds infrastructure, operates it for profit for a period and then transfers ownership to government.  He said the government was aiming to double the number of annual tourist arrivals to six million by 2016.  

"We have identified six primary hubs," Lim said, naming the central island of Bohol as one area that needed a bigger airport to handle surging visitor traffic.  

"The government can build the horizontal (runway and access roads), the private sector can build the vertical (passenger terminals)," he added.  Bohol and the five other planned hubs would funnel traffic from the main gateways of Manila and Cebu into the main tourist zones, he added.  

The Philippines expects its budget deficit for the full year to hit 293 billion pesos (6.50 billion dollars), equivalent to 3.9 percent of gross domestic product.  

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said the new Aquino administration's six-year development programme was anchored on its ability to mobilise private-sector investment.  

"Given scarce government resources, it is private sector investment that will provide the growth and jobs needed in our economy," Domingo added.  

"We need to improve our competitiveness. We need to make the investment climate more predictable," he added.

Source: AFP

Investors ‘flocking to the Philippines'

Catherine Deshayes — 04/03/2010 13:14:00

According to latest figures released by The Global Property Guide, the Philippines has ranked an impressive third place as a destination in which to invest in property with annual yields quoted at 10.99%.

Located in south east Asia, the Philippines has succeeded in beating off most other global property markets ranking third only to Peru and Indonesia with the impressive 10.99% annual yields being calculated on average yields for 120 sq m properties.

So why are investors flocking to the Philippines?

1.Rapidly developing nations such as China are located close by and with new direct flights being regularly introduced the Philippines is becoming a tourist retreat for Asian nationals

2.The Philippines economy is enjoying a boost as the nation becomes a preferred business outsourcing base particularly for offshore call centres.

3. The Philippines government is taking a long term view towards economic growth and stability with foreign direct investment encouraged and improvements to internal infrastructure underway.

4. The close regulation on land use should ensure that this country remains unspoiled and never become a Costa del Sol horror story.

5. The cost of purchasing property is relatively inexpensive compared to the West.

Steven Worboys, Managing Director of Experience International which specialises in emerging real estate, comments:"We are finding a more discerning purchaser considering the Philippines. Thailand and Malaysia have always been popular locations for investors in South East Asia but value for money and guaranteed rentals in the Philippines has encouraged a great deal of interest to these relatively unknown cluster of islands.

"The Philippines is becoming a very popular tourism destination with the Australian market due to its proximity and has always been a hotspot for the American tourists however the expatriate community based in south east Asia are now visiting in their droves and often purchase their very own a slice of paradise".

Source: www.experience-international.com

Philippine tourists in hot water

Catherine Deshayes — 04/01/2010 10:55:00

Philippine troops have been ordered to stop foreigners from getting close to the volatile Mayon volcano after two tourists ventured inside the "danger zone," authorities have said...

Extra troops have been deployed at checkpoints blocking access to Mayon after the tourists and their local guides were seen riding all-terrain vehicles near its foothills on Sunday.

"They looked Chinese. They must have passed through other areas, not the roads where the checkpoints are, to get inside," Captain Razaleigh Bansawan, spokesman of a military task force securing the danger zone, said.

"They wanted to see the lava column."

Mayon has been spewing lava and sending spectacular fountains of ash into the sky for about two weeks, and authorities have warned that a major eruption could occur any day.

Nearly 50,000 villagers living in Mayon's foothills have already been evacuated to areas outside the so-called "danger zone," which has a radius of eight kilometres (five mile).

But villagers wanting to tend to their farms, as well as adventurous tourists, have caused headaches for authorities by going into zone.

Bansawan expressed frustration at having to waste time dealing with the two foreign tourists on Sunday, saying the military had to chase them out of the zone although the pair was not caught.

Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province where Mayon is located, has ordered a crackdown on local tour guides who take the foreigners into the danger zone, according to Bansawan.

Local emergency management official Jukes Nunez said authorities had noticed tourists visiting Legaspi city near Mayon to watch the lava oozing down the volcano's slopes, which is particularly spectacular at night.

But he stressed most tourists did their viewing from designated safe areas.

Meanwhile, Mayon, located about 330 kilometres southeast of Manila, continued to give menacing signals that a major eruption was imminent.

Chief government volcanologist Renato Solidum said ash emissions had shot about one kilometre into the sky repeatedly on Monday.

The government's volcanology institute has kept its alert level for Mayon at four since December 20, meaning a major eruption could occur within days.

The 2,460-metre volcano, which is famed for its near-perfect cone, has erupted 48 times in recorded history. In 1814, more than 1200 people were killed as lava buried the town of Cagsawa.

Source: AFP

Price rise for Philippines

Catherine Deshayes — 27/11/2009 11:22:00

Philippine property yields are expected to remain steady or show a slight increase during 2010, driven by a resurgent Asian economy, forecasts apart-hotel property investment specialist, Asset Property Brokers - the Chinese economy is predicted to grow by 9% in 2010 with Singapore expanding by 4.3%, Taiwan by 3.7% and the Philippines by 3.2%, according to the International Monitory Fund...

This strong regional economic expansion will push through to the Filipino tourist economy, which is expected to see a return to growth in international tourism, albeit modest, of 1% to 3%, according to the United Nations World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) in its latest Tourism Barometer report.

Asian tourists are expected to pick up the shortfall from Europe and the US tourism from China is growing fast; a 20% increase of Chinese Philippines-bound tourists was reported for January to March this year making the country of 7,102 islands one of the fastest growing international destinations.

John Scott, Asset Property Brokers' finance director, said: "The Philippines is in an excellent position to boost its tourist economy in 2010 as growth picks up in neighbouring countries. A number of new airline services will also help serve these growing markets from places such as China and Taiwan. This will particularly impact on the vacation home and apart-hotel market."

At a new apart-hotel golf development on Boracay, Philippines, Asset Property Brokers is offering investors 50 units that comprise studio and two-bedroom apartments, at prices starting at £66,500 and guaranteed yields of up to 14.2%.

The development is located in the established and popular Fairways & Bluewaters Golf and Beach resort, which features a par 72 championship golf course that draws a global guest list.

Long-term bookings from major travel companies have been secured by the management company, Continent Group, which enable it to offer occupancy rates of 80%, underpinning yields for investors.

Source: www.homesoverseas.co.uk/news

New airport for Philippines

Catherine Deshayes — 09/09/2009 10:31:00

The Philippine island of Boracay is to benefit from a new international airport, further boosting its tourist industry success and an increase the investment appeal of property in Philippines...

Just a 15-minute boat ride from the island, the airport will be built on Carabao Island, and is expected to be fully operational by 2012.

The airport, Carabao International Airport (CIA), will provide a modern international airport that will add to the island's existing neighbouring airports.

The new airport will be able to accommodate short haul and medium range Airbuses and similar aircraft, allowing direct international flights from destinations such as Seoul, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kuala Lumpur. Previously, international Boracay bound tourists had to change at Manila for Philippines domestic flights.

John Scott, finance director at Asset Property Brokers, a hotel property investment specialist, said: "The new airport will ensure that Boracay will remain a top tourist destination in the Philippines, allowing the island to tap into the rapidly growing tourist market in China and other key Asian destinations.

"It will also underpin high hotel occupancy rates and yields."

Boracay, which was declared the Best Leisure Destination at the World Travel Fair in 2007, is the third most popular destination in the Philippines with 383,813 visitors for the first half of this year - an increase of six per cent compared with the equivalent period last year.

The island's tourism has also benefited from an influx of tourists from Taiwan, bought in by new charter flights to Kalibo - the island's current international gateway. China Airlines launched services earlier this year while Mandarin Airlines will launch new routes in October.

At Continent Fairways, a new apart-hotel golf development on Boracay, Asset Property Brokers is offering investors 56 units, comprising studio and two-bedroom apartments, at prices starting at £66,660 and guaranteed yields of up to 14.2per cent.

Source: www.homesoverseas.co.uk/news

Philippines entice pensioners

Catherine Deshayes — 15/05/2009 09:46:00

The recent addition of property in the Philippines to Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) plans is expanding income opportunities for British pensioners...

Following an announcement by the British Minister for Pensions Reform, Mike O'Brien, pensioners have been able to access savings held by life insurers.

The funds that have been built up in this way for an average earner could amount to as much as £25,000-£250,000, which pensioners are free to reinvest for additional income. This is good news for pensioners who are seeking to increase their real estate investment portfolios.

In addition to a range of investment options, other such opportunities include condo/aparthotel investments in the Philippines. The Pacific Concord Properties Lancaster Condotel developments provide investors with potential ongoing rental income from overseas investments.

The acceptance of the developments in the UK SBQ property & Land SIPP portfolio follows extensive research by a Business Management & Marketing Consultants firm on an independent basis. Due diligence is handled independently by solicitors in the United Kingdom.

This is particularly relevant to the UK, as investors have been discouraged from buying locally as a result of the current economic situation. Investments are in a portfolio which is a low cost, tax efficient structure for those who wish to supplement their income after the age of 55.

Investment in overseas rental property has been a rising trend in the UK. The inclusion of the Philippines in SIPP plans is now also helping pensioners to take part in improving their own economic situation, as well as that of the Southeast Asian republic.

Source: www.hotproperty.co.uk

Expert hails ‘Pearl of the Oriental Seas'

Jaimie Kanwar — 19/02/2009 11:10:00

The Philippines is quickly growing as a new property investment hotspot, argues one company...

This group of islands in South-East Asia benefits from an intense mix of peoples and cultures, making it a truly exciting melting-pot and the country's growing tourism and business sectors are a tribute to this.

Figures recently released by the Department of Tourism (DoT) have shown that 2008 was a bumper year for the country - with a record number of arrivals - 3.14 million visitors, an increase of 1.5% on the previous year.

Not only this but interestingly, although South Koreans accounted for the highest number of visitors (recording an increase of 19.48% in the number of visitors in 2008), arrivals by Russian visitors were up even more significantly on 2007 figures - an increase of 34% year-on-year.

Growing economy

As a good indicator of investor confidence, this huge increase in Russian arrivals is a significant sign for the country's economy, predicting an even brighter future, as Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism for The Philippines, recognised: "Tourism is seen to be one of the strongest propellers of the economy for the year ahead."

And with a great deal to offer, it is not hard to see why - powder-white beaches, magnificent coral reefs offering some of the world's best diving, crystal clear waters, lush mangrove forests to name but a few of the great draws of these some 7,000 islands.

Great investment potential

With so much to offer and a growing tourist market, this is perhaps the ideal time to invest in property in the country, as Steve Worboys, Managing Director of Experience International comments,

"As soon as you set foot in The Philippines it is easy to see why it is often known as 'The Pearl of the Oriental Seas': it is a country of beauty and great potential for those looking to invest.

"As a relatively new emerging market, The Philippines' popularity is set to continue growing for many years to come and that is why now is a great time to buy into the boom, especially while property prices are relatively low and there are real bargains to be had - with excellent rental potential."

Source: www.experience-international.com

Oldies head to ‘secure' Philippines

Jaimie Kanwar — 12/02/2009 11:43:00

Older investors are increasingly looking at property in the Philippines as the perfect purchase during the credit crunch...

Beth Collingz, overseas sales director for the PLC International Group, believes that the country has what it takes to ride out the financial storm, due to the high deposits expected from developers.

She claimed that the south-east Asian island nation has become popular with an older generation of foreign nationals looking to tie-up their life savings in a more secure venture.

Ms Collingz said: "Global investors are looking to replace failed pension plans and other future saving schemes with a solid investment in real estate.

"Many are looking for investments that will give them an income for retirement."

According to the International Monetary Fund, the country will see economic growth of 3.8 per cent before the end of 2009.

Source: www.Axiafx.com

Global phenomenon

Catherine Deshayes — 11/11/2008 10:45:00

Worsening economic conditions have now taken a toll on almost every commercial property market in the world, according to a global survey of real estate surveyors...

The past few months have seen a sharp deterioration in performance and demand for real estate in many regions that had previously appeared resilient to the credit crisis, in particular parts of Asia and Eastern Europe.

The slump in commercial property is well established in mature markets such as the UK and US, but a report today from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors shows that there are few property markets in the world that remain unscathed by the economic crisis.

The net balance of movements in global rents turned negative for the first time in the survey's history, led by weakness in the US, Japan, Spain, Ireland and India, while property values also worsened markedly in the third quarter.

The report, which measured sentiment among surveyors about the value and tenant demand for property, singles out the Indian market as being particularly hard hit. The region has attracted many overseas investors hoping to tap into the property needs of a previously booming economy.

Rising interest rates, higher inflation and a lack of liquidity is affecting confidence in the country, says the report, and 45 per cent more surveyors reported a fall in occupier demand compared with six per cent in the last quarter. The balance of surveyors reporting investor purchases plummeted from zero to minus 73.

The biggest slump in capital values has been in Eastern Europe, a marked turnaround considering expectations of growth only three months ago.

Source: The Financial Times

New property sites launched

Catherine Deshayes — 10/10/2008 09:49:00

TheMoveChannel.com, the leading international property portal, announces the launch of over 80 country specific property sites...

Each country site features in depth property listings that can be filtered by a multi criteria search engine. The investment opportunities listed include both residential and commercial properties, land and more unique property types.

Developers, estate agents and private owners who advertise with TheMovechannel.com will double their exposure by appearing on both the main TheMovechannel.com international property portal and the relevant country portal that their properties are located in. Advertisers however will not be charged any fee for this additional coverage.

Buyers can gain a valuable insight into countries through the dedicated country news, features, email newsletters plus online buying and selling guides.

Dan Johnson, Managing Director, comments, "We've recognised in the toughening real estate market, investors are adopting a more sophisticated and informed buying process.

"The new portals not only provide detailed information on the property stock available in a particular country but also fill in the gaps in investors' knowledge of a market through reference materials and frequent news updates," added Mr Johnson.

Source: www.themovechannel.com

Major breakthrough for Asia's construction industry

Catherine Deshayes — 10/09/2008 13:27:00

Houses come in all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes, sizes and styles, but the materials used to build them remain fairly standard; until the introduction of chicken feather building boards, that is.

Bringing new meaning to the Big Bad Wolf's ‘I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down,' a Philippines- based scientist has created a new house building material made from chicken feathers.

The new composite building board is being hailed as a possible breakthrough for the construction industry in Asia.

Plagued by problems with termites, Asia has been searching for a new material to combat the issue for several years.

The new chicken feather board would be resistant to the pests, and could also solve a major environment problem in the Philippines by providing a way to dispose of millions of kilos of waste feathers each year.

Professor Menandro Acda, the brains behind the boards, has created them using a combination of compressed cement and chicken feathers.

The boards have already been hailed as an economically and environmentally positive creation, and there is potential for them to be widely used for housing, replacing the traditional boards made with wood chips.

"As the boards will be made of chicken feathers, which contain keratin, they will not be attacked by the termites as they are inedible, as well as being less flammable or combustible as conventional cement and wood-fibre composite," Mr Acda said.

Feather boards don't sounds very strong, and, whilst they could be used for non-weight bearing building components such as paneling and insulation, they don't solve the problem altogether, as they cannot be used for building walls or pillars.

Mr Acra is in the process of applying for a patent for the feather boards. Suggestions for the name of the boards on a postcard please!

To browse properties for sale in the Philippines, visit philippines.themovechannel.com/

Asian property markets warning

Jaimie Kanwar — 21/04/2008 00:00:00

The Global Property Guide has warned of imminent turmoil in Asian property markets…

Prince Christian Cruz, senior economist at the Global Property Guide, warned: “Asian property markets, though still relatively unaffected by the credit crunch, will soon be affected by inflation and higher interest rates, because of rising food, fuel and other commodity prices.

“Higher food, fuel and other commodity prices affect the housing market negatively in several ways: At the micro level, households may postpone their decision to purchase a new house or spend on renovation if they anticipate higher prices. At the macro level, higher food and fuel prices push inflation up. Monetary authorities typically raise key interest rates to stem inflationary pressure”.

Many Asian economies which have recently experienced residential real estate price surges such as China, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong and India (all of which registered double-digit house price increases in 2007) are under significant inflationary pressure:

Annual House Price Change (%) end-2007
China (Shanghai)	35.43%
Singapore	31.18%
Hong Kong	24.95%
Philippines	15.15%
Japan (6 major cities)	8.40%
South Korea	3.08%
Source: Various sources

Higher inflation and interest rates

Monetary authorities typically raise interest rates to combat inflation. They can also increase the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of banks or sell bonds or other financial instruments to reduce money supply.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the cash reserve ratio by 50 basis points in two stages to mop excess liquidity and contain inflationary pressures. The CRR will be 7.75% effective April 26 and 8% by May 10, 2008.

The RBI, similar to other central banks in Asia, left key interest rates unchanged during the first half of April. However, most analysts indicate the key rates might be hiked in May if inflation continues to be above the official targets

Fears of interest rate hikes cropped up in several Asian countries, particularly in Indonesia and China.

High interest rates affect housing markets in two ways:

By discouraging investment and consumption and causing the economy to slow, higher interest rates reduce people’s willingness to spend on housing.
Higher interest rates discourage borrowing for housing loans.

“The situation is unfortunate because most Asian housing markets have not yet fully recovered from the effects of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis,” Cruz notes.

“Even with strong house price gains in 2007, property prices in Asia are still below their pre-Asian Crisis peak levels. Despite 31% nominal rise in the over-all residential property price index, Singapore’s prices are still about 10% to 20% below their pre-Asian crisis peak level in real terms,” adds Cruz.

“In the Philippines, even with the 15% increase in condominium prices in 2007, it is still about 47% below its peak level in real terms,” he continues.

The housing markets most likely to be affected by monetary tightening seem to be China, India, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand, which have experienced the largest increases in inflation.

Will Asia tango together?

“With global financial markets interconnected, the world’s economies tend to move together. The synchronicity was observed with the global housing boom - never before in recorded history did so many countries experience so much house price growth all at the same time,” Cruz notes.

“The housing market slowdown may also be synchronized,” he adds. “Inflationary pressures are likely to cause Asia’s central banks to raise interest rates, and slow their housing markets,” he says.

However convergence will not be universal. Where currencies are pegged to the US, housing markets are likely to diverge somewhat from the global adjustment.

Countries such as Hong Kong and the Gulf must follow US interest rates. Unless those countries re-peg their currencies, their central banks cannot raise interest rates. This may lead to higher inflation including in the housing market.

Philippines: ‘Incredible’ for investment?

Jaimie Kanwar — 15/04/2008 00:00:00

Real estate in the Philippines is experiencing massive growth, claims one company…

Liam Bailey, head of David Stanley Redfern, commented: “The Philippines is an incredible destination for a short-term property investment. Using other countries in the region as a guide, and considering the fact that the Philippines real estate growth is based on the same strengths, it is a safe bet that Philippines real estate will grow in value by 20-25% per year.

“Take Bangkok, where we can now see real estate being sold for twice what they were 3-4 years ago. And Phnom Penh, Cambodia is seeing strong 24%-25% growth year on year.

Mr Bailey added: “Philippines real estate growth is fuelled by massive growth in its business and industry sectors, primarily in Manila as major companies flock in to build cheap office towers, inhabited by a cheap work-force, working with manufacturing goods bought just as cheaply.

“This brings in retail chains in preparation for the increasing affluence of the population. The big corporations tend to relocate the top-level management, and the incoming executives are looking for quality rented accommodation, the same is true as the affluence of local people increases in their new jobs”.

The Philippines: A dream destination

Jaimie Kanwar — 20/12/2007 00:00:00

Makati in the Philippines is steadily attracting bargain-hunting investors…

Makati is increasing in corporate appeal and holds great attraction for business executives. The capital’s main business district is filled with numerous Filipino companies, classy hotels, exclusive restaurants and 24 hour golf courses.

Combined with its already established, perfect ‘dream destination’ profile, serious investors looking on the global property market are succumbing to the Filipino charm.

It is not possible to buy an apartment in a centrally located Philippines skyscraper for as little as £26k. But what’s the catch? Well, due to its sheer quality, limited availability is an understandable issue, though that’s about it, really.

Remember, it’s not just the alluring investment environment of Makati that draws investors to Philippines, its perhaps something about the properties expected higher than average 12% yields and exceptional growth (off plan prices per m2 in this district have grown by 40% in the last 24 months) too.

Staggering capital appreciation

Philippines GDP has been rising at over 5% year on year and the Filipino peso appreciated a staggering 20% against the $USD since de-pegging just 12 months previously. Makati is where it's all at.

A fully furnished, fully managed £26k apartment includes fixtures, fittings, furniture and all dressing items such as tableware, glassware, bedding, cutlery etc, essentially making for immediate rental, though the option of obtaining a rental yield (around 8-12%) by leasing the apartment back to the in-house management company is open to buyers.

Foreign investors can own this second to none property on a freehold basis, amidst the sustained, aggressive and growing Filipino economy. With interest free credit available, buyers can spread their payments and reduce the initial amount of cash they require to get a piece of this action.

Find out more at http://www.davidstanleyredfern.com/prop_details.php?id_prop=73