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The next five years will be a trying time for Asian residential property markets, according to a recent report. The cost of housing is increasing in many Asian markets, which is one reason for this expectation. Governments are doing their part to try to keep housing prices down through regulation and law, but they continue to rise in many countries. While the property market in Europe and the UK slowed considerably (apart from in Bulgaria), Singapore and Hong Kong have outperformed the market in general with their housing prices. This sounds positive, but may cause trouble for uncanny investors.
A recent survey of experts in real estate, finance and business revealed that Asian real estate will still be hot ‘property’ in the next five years. This survey was commissioned by Allens Arthur Robins, a trust company and law firm. They predicted that REITs will remain quite healthy in Asia, however the residential property market in Asia may struggle. Commercial property is expected to do well, with high volume turnover predicted and good prices. Residential property though, is expected to suffer from increasingly high prices, and a resultantly slower market.
The residential property market in China is one of the biggest in Asia, volume-wise. A report by the South China Morning Post reveals that the main focuses of real estate growth will most likely be retail, industrial and commercial property. This is despite the fact that all three of these sectors have slowed down in the last few months. However, residential property has outperformed itself somewhat -the record high prices and appreciation that have thrilled many investors now make most residential property in Asia beyond the reach of the country’s middle-class citizens.
One example comes from Shanghai, where Shanghai Forte Land recently announced that a recently completed residential project will see an expected hike in prices of 20%. This is despite measures specifically put in place by the Chinese government to control the residential property market in China’s skyrocketing prices, which have created havoc in the country’s economy in the past years. Real estate investment in China is in turmoil due to these regulations.
Another example comes from Singapore, where the residential property market in this Asian country was described as the hottest in the world by Jones Lang LaSalle in 2007, after the city-state’s property prices surged by 31% in just one year. However, the effects of the credit crunch have not left Singapore’s market untouched, and Asia’s real estate generally, along with Singapore’s are now cooling somewhat. Private home prices rose by only .4% in the second quarter of 2008, which is the slowest increase in four years. These figures come from the government’s preliminary statistics.
India is also seeing the residential property market slow down. There is expected to be a 15-20% dip in residential property prices, due to the extremely low numbers of residential properties changing hands. The market is stagnating in cities like Mohali, Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Surat and Cochin, with up to a 90% drop in the number of property deals in these cities. This seems to be indicative of the residential property market in Asia generally.
Crude oil prices have also had their impact on Asian real estate, with both developers and private home buyers having less money to spend on their accommodation. The credit crunch continues, and we expect that residential property in Asia will be subject to all of these factors in the coming year.
Across the world, we see an explosion of the game of poker.
Australian Joe Hachem’s big 2005 WSOP win inevitably triggered increased interest in the game Down Under, and lifted the attention of people in the Asia Pacific towards poker. Those in the poker industry in established countries see the vast opportunity for bringing poker competitions to Asia.
Already Asia has, in the 6 months prior to the writing of this article, seen at least 3 new tournaments sprouting around the Asian continent. The most famous of these was the Asian Poker Tour held in Singapore.
The APT is a prelude to Singapore’s 2 new integrated resorts, of which casinos formed the highlight component. The integrated resorts are major commercial and residential property developments introduced by the Singapore Government’s as its latest initiative to drive the Singapore economy and to grow Singapore into a major tourist destination for the region.
But Singapore is not the only destination in Asia with a draw for the poker player’s dollar.
Macau has, less than a decade after the liberalisation of its casino restrictions, recently surpassed the dominant Las Vegas as the highest revenue generating gambling destination in the world. Perhaps there are benefits to introducing casinos and poker to the Asian region still enjoying rapid economic growth and populated by some two thirds of the world’s population.
Singapore and Macau in the Asia Pacific are sure to provide many more opportunities to play poker in this region.
All the signs are that poker can be bigger here than it could ever be in Europe and North America.
Indeed, with the recent passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in the US, several major companies have adopted the policy of completely restricting US citizens from playing in the US. The result is that these companies are actively promoting their poker games to Europe, Australia, and soon, you will find, Asia as well. There are no borders in the internet and any individual sitting in Manchester, Melbourne or Macau can play poker online.
Asia will have its challenges in the development of this industry. Many countries are of conservative values or are still staunch in religions or beliefs and hence that may look poorly upon poker. Of course, the starting perception of poker is as part of gambling and betting and gaming.
However, these are no different from issues once faced by poker players in other continents. Indeed, the perception of poker worldwide is changing. There is argument that poker should be seen more as a sport due to the dominance of skill over the element of chance involved in poker. An increasing number of people do not turn professional to play roulette or other casino games – they turn professional to play poker because there are opportunities to influence the course of game with skill.
In any event, as we see from the many tournaments and casinos sprouting around Asia, those that do not get into the industry (with the right regulations and balance) lose out.
Poker is coming to Asia, and Asia welcomes poker.
AKSuited runs http://www.RoyalFlushAsia.com, part of the Asia websites group including http://PropertyAndAsia.com and http://BackpackersAsia.com. For updates on tournaments in Asia, listings of top online poker rooms and best bonuses, and poker news from Macau, Singapore, Goa, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, etc., visit us
Real estate in Asia is considered a potentially sound investment. In recent years, real estate in Asia has undergone a vigorous revival driven by strong demographics, economic growth and infrastructure themes across the nations.
On recognizing the potentials and opportunities that many of the Asian countries render, scores of international companies and local corporations have now started to enter the Asian property market. This in turn has led to a soaring demand for both commercial and residential property in Asia, thereby boosting the real estate prices. Further, the continent is home to a substantial number of incredible tourist destinations, which in turn has spurred the growth of hotel and resort industry. Residential property also serves as an excellent long term investment in Asia, yielding handsome profit.
The real estate in Asia provides huge scale of choices for investors. In other words, let it be in sectors like retail, residential, industrial, or hospitality sector, a continuum of opportunistic options are available for investing in Asia. For instance, developed economies like Japan and South Korea offer excellent leasing strategies.
For investors seeking huge returns, dynamic as well as emerging destinations such as India and China are the best. Likewise, core plus investments opportunities are available in such hi-fi Asian cities as Tokyo and Hong Kong, each of which are hot markets for office set ups and big buildings. Further, for those interested in hotel business, Asian destinations including Thailand provides superb options.
There are also excellent opportunities available in South East Asian nations, such as, Singapore and Malaysia, boasting of a matured economic structure and high income level. Nowadays, many investors are attracted to the potentials obtainable in Vietnam, particularly with its entry into the World Trade Organization. In addition, majority of the matured economies such as Taiwan, Korea, and Thailand offer great opportunities for real estate investments.
However, the laws governing the sale and purchase of property in Asia vary from nations to nations. For example, in order to administer the real estate in China, the government has imposed several guidelines, including the Law of Land Administration of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations 1990 on Development and Management of Tracts of Land by Foreign Investors.
In Hong Kong, property buying processes are governed by the Conveyancing and Ordinance, modeled in the form of English Law. Likewise, some nations impose certain restrictions on foreigners for investing in Asian market. In order to invest in a property in Malaysia, its law entails foreign investors to get approval from the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) of the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, in order to invest in a property here. Similarly, foreigners cannot purchase property outright in Philippines. Furthermore, in Philippines, foreigners can own only building and not the land.
One of the greatest advantages of investing in Asian real estate is that it allows investors to participate in broad based growth of property throughout the region. Liberal tax law systems, low interest rates, and easy availing of mortgage finance are the other key benefits of investing in Asian market. However, the success of investing in a property in Asia are affected by certain factors including investor poise, profit margins on development projects, economic qualms, rental yields, and operating cost.
A plethora of real estate agencies and firms are now in the scenario to make you available your dream property in Asia, no matter it is villa, apartments, single homes, or commercial or industrial spaces. Many of them offer superb services in connection with the buying and selling of real estate. Some even come with an exclusive section to cater to the requirements of foreign investors. Apart from these, there are real estate agencies as well as realtors working in association with leading law firms. This in turn enables you to get excellent services of a proficient attorney.
However, prior to contracting a realtor in Asia, it is important to undertake a research on the reputation and the quality of the service it renders. There are some firms incurring huge charges in the form of hidden expenses. Hence, it must be checked for. Since many of the firms have their own websites, this allows for a convenient as well as easy search of most suitable realtor. Newspapers, reviews, online directories, and references are the other prime sources in order to find the most suitable firm that go with your needs.
Nobody can give up diving once they get to feel the great sensation that this sport has to offer. The moments when you get to see the beauty that lies beneath the mysterious waters are surely priceless no matter where you are. Searching for the best place to go for scuba diving is impossible; there is no such thing as the best place for this sport. The underwater world is beautiful and surprising in so many ways that you simply cannot choose to do scuba diving in the same place every time. However, there are some extraordinary destinations to scuba that cannot be ignored by a fan of this sport no matter what. One of these wonderful locations is Asia, which can offer to its underwater visitors the remarkable view they want.
Asia is always full of surprises for the ones that choose it for a trip and this is available when it comes to scuba diving as well. It offers a tempting variety of dive destinations that no one can resist. If you decide to travel to Asia you have many options to choose from and you will surely want to visit each dive destination if possible. Once you get to go scuba diving in Asia you will definitely want to repeat the trip whenever you will have the time for that. You will also find that the tourism services provided there reach your standards with success.
One of the most popular locations for scuba diving in Asia is India, where you can choose from exciting places, such as Andaman and Nicobar. There you will find a diving location with a great potential that will satisfy your need for adventure. Lakshadweep Islands, also located in India, represent another beautiful location for scuba diving. Goa is a popular side vacation, often chosen by tourists. You can do scuba diving around Grande Island between October and May. The visibility varies depending on the season; in what concerns the marine life, the species you will meet there are numerous.
Besides the dive sites that you can already find there, the tourism in Asia is constantly increasing so many more other dive sites are developing. You will surely find a hospitable place to stay when you are going for scuba diving in Asia. As I mentioned above, the tourism is quickly developing so the services you will benefit from will definitely be on your tastes. In every dive site you can stay in a proper resort for tourists and you will benefit from help from a local firm that deals with divers. There is no reason why not consider the trip for scuba diving in Asia an unforgettable holiday.
Whether you choose to visit India for scuba diving or you decide to go to Indonesia, Malaysia or Thailand, one thing is sure. Asia has many surprising things to offer and you will not regret for choosing it for scuba diving. The world is full of destinations that offer a beautiful experience to the ones that practice scuba diving and Asia is one of the locations that should not be avoided.
Bharatbook.com is glad to announce a new report titled “Asia Pacific Biotechnology Market (2008-2012)”.
Asia Pacific Biotechnology Market provides an updated and detailed overview of the Asia-Pacific Biotechnology industry. It examines the emerging trends and provides exclusive forecasts and segment-wise snapshots of the Biotechnology industry in the region. The report also presents the information regarding the government policies on Biotechnology and region-wise Bioclusters in the Asia-Pacific countries.
Key Findings
Growing at an estimated CAGR of 11.23% between 2004 and 2006, the expected value of Asia-Pacific Biotechnology market by 2006 end is more than US$ 39.16 Billion.
Japan, China, and Taiwan are the largest Biotechnology markets in the Asia-Pacific region that had a combined market share of nearly 76% in 2006.
The Asia-pacific region will emerge as a key destination for clinical trials & stem cell research.
Biotechnology will play an important role in agriculture sector by developing large number of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Biopharma industry, comprising of vaccines, therapeutics, diagonostics and other products, will emerge as a major segment of the Asia-Pacific Biotech industry.
The Biotechnology industry in the Asia-pacific region is largely dependent on the government with very little private participation in most of the countries.
Lack of venture funding remains a major challenge for Asia-Pacific Biotechnology companies.
The Contract Research industry in India could reach as high as US$ 270 Million by 2009.
The Japanese Government, which was earlier accused of shielding its domestic companies, has now opened its doors for foreign investment.
Opaque government policies and regulations in China are acting as a major hurdle for foreign participation in the biotechnology market.
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You think of a great holiday? Asia could be the perfect destination. Asia offers a great holiday experience to the knowledge of different cultures and attraction – especially now that you can hire a private tour guide who offers custom tours. Over the past few decades, travel in Asia has become very sophisticated, with birding guides in Thailand and fashion guides in Tokyo, diving guides in the Philipines to sailing cruises in Bali and Komodo.
Beach holiday in Asia are popular for many Westerners. When you visit the countries of Southeast Asia particularly, your holiday will never be complete without surfing and beach party. You will certainly enjoy the natural beauty of the white sand, which are rare in these parts of the world.
A vacation trip to Asia will allow you to discover its natural beauty. If you are planning a vacation, the Asian countries would be the perfect destination. You can discover new cultures and will be fascinated hospitality and Asians are friendly. Here are some very good reasons why you should provide for a holiday in Asia.
1. This is an excellent way to spend a long holiday in Asia. You will have a great time in spending your budget. You will have the advantage of the dollar exchange rate. You will have the best time and all the time in the world all your spending money.
2. You can find tours and travel packages that are inexpensive. Travel agencies offer reasonable prices for your entire Asian experience. You can also find plenty of vacation rentals that offer a relaxing experience that you would not forget in your whole life.
3. Asian countries such as China and India have large tracts of benchmarks that are considered to be wonders of the world. In addition to watching the Great Wall of China and the Taj Majal in India, you must also be educated to the different regions. You can make your vacation China and Tour India, a scenic, cultural, religious or historical travel.
4. The region of Southeast Asia offers travelers with a lot of beaches. In Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia have the most beautiful beaches in the world. Apart from the beaches, you will also be surprised with the tropical climate of the region. Tourists especially from the western countries have experienced great treatment of fun and people.
5. Hong Kong is the place to visit. The new Hong Kong Disneyland is a new attraction for the country, especially for those who have brought their families. You can also take advantage of their purchases in markets close to the river from Hong Kong. Their restaurants serve another taste of Cantonese cuisine you surely appreciate.
6. With the natural beauty of its mountains and rivers, Taiwan would be a perfect choice for the holidays in Asia. Asia tropical climate is responsible for the beauty and diversity of the continent’s wonderful and abundant forests. Taiwan is also known as a major destination for bird watching especially during the months of September and May.
According to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2008, just published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The three cities also received high ratings for development potential, reaffirming their status as leading global gateways. ULI, based in Washington, D.C., is a global education and research institute committed to responsible land use; its ULI Asia district council support the institute’sgrowing membership in countries throughout Asia.
The report, provides an overview of Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, real estate finance and capital markets, trends by property sector and metropolitan area, and other real estate issues relevant to the countries in Asia.
Twenty markets are taken into account for the report. Emerging Trends is centered on the opinions of internationally renowned real estate professionals. The Asia Pacific version comprises interviews with and surveys of more than 190 professionals, including investors, developers, property company representatives, lenders, brokers and
consultants.
One change amplified in Emerging Trends is the increasing number of individuals and firms in more than one Asia Pacific market, pointing at a progressing comfort level by the business community with functioning in several cities offering diverse conditions.
According to the report there is no doubt that the Asia Pacific property market is still as diverse today as it was a year ago, considering opportunities, risks, capital markets, economics, demographics and business cycles. The fact that more businesses learn and recognize the diversity and variations is clearly another step toward market maturity.
It is anticipated that even greater amounts of capital will be flowing into Asia Pacific real estate markets in 2008. The real barrier for investors to overcome will lie in locating the right assets against the backdrop of yield compression and scrutiny by regional governments and tax authorities. Sentiment was intense among survey participants to either buy or hold all types of properties in Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo, rather than sell properties, demonstrating the cities strong acceptance with the investment community.
Shanghai, which is dominating the list for investment prospects, edged up from its second-place ranking last year. Still, despite its portrayal as an elite city for the real estate industry, some concern was expressed about a growing oversupply of some properties in Shanghai.
The biggest number of buy recommendations in Shanghai arrived at the industrial/distribution sector, 67 percent of the respondents advised buying those properties; at the same time 22 percent advised holding. Fifty two percent recommended buying office space, 35 percent advised holding, and 13 percent, selling. In the retail market, 45 percent of the participants advised buying; 41 percent, holding; and 13 percent, selling. In the apartment residential/rental, 48 percent recommended buying; 35 percent, holding; and 17percent, selling.
As the years go by, Asia Pacific property markets will integrate more completely with the global economy, and, just as significantly, global property capital markets, the report explains. If the quality and quantity of research, business intelligence, and transparency goes ahead, then the atypical puzzles and learning curves of the marketplace will be substituted with maturity. Keeping all these things in mind, emerging trends in real estate investments in Asia in 2008 clearly indicates at a brighter future for the global economy itself.
Asia Online Group, an Asian based online travel network, specializing in low cost accommodations and travel resources in Asia Pacific, has created the first network of more than 2,500 hotels in Asia offering real time online availability. Travel Agents, customers, and businesses can now book directly to the hotel of their choice. The Asia Online Network offers three interfaces, one which links into travel agency systems, an online option for web consumers, and a portal for enterprise business travel solutions. Never again will travelers have to make a reservation request and wait 72 hours or more to receive confirmation on their booking.
Bangkok, Thailand – Asia Online Group has announced the first ever consumer targeted Asian Pacific hotel network which gives direct access to hotels in Asia for travelers. AsiaTiv.com now shows consumers instant availability for hotel rooms in Asia.
Dror Meytal, Asia Online Group’s CEO says: “Unlike in Europe and USA, none of the Asian online travel web sites offered direct access to dynamic room availability information in Asia. Until today, travelers would browse the web find a hotel, based on general agency inventory and seasonal price list, and based on that the traveler needed to make a reservation with their credit card information and wait up to a week for a response.”
Previously hotel reservations were done with a system which estimated availability and had a very long turn response time. Mr. Meytal continued “There is a very poor trend where more than 50% of hotel reservations in Asia being made online were for rooms that were no longer available, and for rooms on holidays or peak seasons the rate jumped 70%! Customers were trapped by a scenario were their credit card was blocked for the amount of a purchase and they were not being rewarded for their patience. Our new network of over 2500 hotels gives them a real picture of room availability, price and simplifies the purchasing process.”
The Asia Online network offers other travel resources on top of low cost accommodations. Visitors to AsiaTiv.com , can reserve airport to hotels transfers, tours, boat trips, private cars with drivers and much more. Travel-hub.net, also part of the Asia Online Group, services travel agents and agencies. Travel agents can now offer real time hotel availability for their clients, saving them money and increasing satisfaction. Mr. Meytal commented “Travel Agents have known about this problem for years, and the feedback that we receive from them while building this network has been 100% positive.”
The Asia Online Network not only lets customers directly book their hotels, but offers a price match guarantee. Customers receive instant feedback and the lowest possible prices. Mr. Meytal concluded with “We wanted to improve the customer experience, whether online, on the phone or in our offices. We back up our network by having representation in 8 South Asia Pacific countries, so travelers can feel secure even after they have made a purchase.”
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