One of the fastest growing areas of Thailand is the twin resorts of Cha’am and Hua Hin in the province of Petchaburi, south of Bangkok. Condominiums have been springing up here for the past four years to cater for the influx of senior citizens who flock to the area for the warm winter weather, the first class facilities for health and dentistry, with two major hospitals including a newly opened branch of the Bangkok Hospital, great restaurants, food outlets and transport. As well as the necessities for good living, there are six superb professional golf courses in the area, and tennis and squash are available at the major hotels in the area. Spas and Health Clubs abound and the prices are more than reasonable.
What the Future Holds for Hua Hin-Cha'am
The next few years will see this area develop even more as the road between the two towns now sports massive signs proclaiming the rise of another condo, another hotel, or another shopping centre. Ribbon development will soon be the name of the game, and the Royal Palace which lay in splendid isolation on the beach just a few years ago, will soon be surrounded by the material signs of modern living.
This is rather a pity as it was the presence of Thailand’s royal family in their summer palace which first attracted visitors to the area. As the more mature travellers shunned the brash town of Pattaya across the Gulf, Hua Hin and Cha’am became the favourite towns for the discerning visitor not looking for hectic nightlife.
Latest Development
One of the newest developments is a Santorini Island style retail theme park due to open soon in Cha’am district. The architecture has been inspired by the Greek island of Santorini and will have five zones offering fashion, home decor, handicrafts and restaurants, while the Park zone will offer rides including a 40-metre Ferris wheel, carousels and a G-Max reverse bungee. Parking for 1,500 cars is included.
Visitors to the Towns
Four million tourists visit Hua Hin yearly and although figures aren’t available for Cha’am, I would estimate tourists in the region of 1 million for this smaller town. The presence of major hotels like Dusit, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Sofitel, Hilton etc. ensures a constant flow of visitors to the towns, while the continuing popularity of pro-am golf and the superb courses available means that condos and villas to cater for the growing popularity of the sport are constantly springing up.
Hua Hin has a large Swedish population who occupy many of the villas and condos around the town and the Swedish Embassy has recently appointed a consul for its citizens in the town, proof indeed that the once fishing village surrounded by fields of pineapples, has now become a major town.
Mari Nicholson - Award Winning travel writer and historian, member of British Guild of Travel Writers.Travelwriters.co.uk, and Society of Women Writers and ...
