In the movie from the James Bond franchise, The Man with the Golden Gun, there are scenes from the story set in the natural wonders of the island bay of Phang Nga, taking it into international levels of fame and letting the world catch a glimpse of its famous beaches. For tourists visiting Phang Nga, it’s one of the first things on their mind as it’s what made this place famous in the first place.

Geographical Background

The International movie scene always had the major boost when it comes to the economy of Phang Nga, giving rise to the modern developments in place and under way today. The perimeter of the town is mostly surrounded by mountains, enveloping the town. The total area amounts to almost four thousand two hundred square meters of mangrove areas and forests of evergreen trees. Eight administrative sub districts are also in placed in Phang Nga. In fact, there are plenty of places to go to in the region and things to see in each of these sub districts.

History of the Town

Currently Phang Nga is a town and the capital of its province and namesake. Officially, the town was founded during the reign of Rama II in 1789, and the town was inhabited because of the protection that it afforded the townsfolk, with mountain ranges on all sides surrounding them and keeping the invaders at bay. Tin mining also became one of the chief industries in Phang Nga, and the government received a large part of its revenues from these mines, having a huge market in the international trade scene for tin.

Must-See Places

Plenty of tourist attractions are present within Phang Nga, and the city hosts some prime examples of natural wonders out in the sea and within the main area, with rock formations making up small islands like gems set on the blue waters of the sea. The Similan islands are also one place tourists are recommended to visit during their stay, with coral gardens dotting the undeveloped island paradise. This makes it an ideal dive site, with lots of different marine species waiting in the ocean to be explored.

Within the island there are also lots of places to visit, among these is the Ao Phang Nga national park, having four hundred square km of private park space, it’s perfect for tourists to get a glimpse of the wildlife and scenery in the country. Coastal areas are also within the boundaries of the park, and you can see the cliff formations molded by the sea’s waves crashing onto it. Limestone formations are also here in Phang Nga, and a must-see for tourists interested in the natural wonders around the area.

Things to Do in Phang Nga

A lot of tourist activities can make the experience of staying in Phang Nga complete. For one thing, the variety of activities cover most of the spectrum of the things to do that tourists look for, like land or water activities, from mild shore fun to extreme water sports. Scuba diving is a big hit in the area, because of the corals within the sea, still vibrant and full of life after all this time. You can also rent out a canoe to explore the inner reaches of the island, and you can discover hidden areas in the island, like grottoes stashed away in caves. Trekking through the island’s mountain ranges can also get you connected back with nature and its wonders.

Of course, there are also activities of the modern sort in Phang Nga, with one golf course to serve the need of avid golfers to play on new courses. It’s located on the west coast of the island, with the ocean and hills in the horizon. Ideal tee-off times would be during early morning or late in the afternoons due to the cooler temperature levels during these hours. Shopping is another modern treat that vacationers must experience during their stay in Phang Nga, with unique souvenirs to bring home being offered in the local stores. A delicious local culinary treat would be the shrimp paste sold in markets here, and is made in several different styles.

Investing in Properties in Phang Nga

Looking to invest in properties in Phang Nga is a smart move because of its big potential as a tourist hotspot, and growth among the tourist destinations in Thailand is recorded as the highest in the country. There are plenty of natural attractions in the area that draw tourists to visit it time and again. Diving is also one additional big dawn to the area, and the top diving spot is just seventy minutes away by boat. Medical and other facility access is good, all being within an hour away from the area of Khao Lak.

The best move when it comes to property investments in Phang Nga would be to focus on the tourism industry as the backbone for your property investment plans. These two items go hand in hand quite well, and you can lease out or invest in a property development that you can then farm out to tourists staying in the area. You can expect high returns with your investment, going as much as twenty percent or higher in some cases. The demand for luxury villas is also going up, and developers are rushing to complete properties for supply to catch up with demand in this market.

The resorts around the area of Khao Lak in Phang Nga were the ones affected by the huge tsunami that struck during 2005. However these are doing quite nicely now and recovering from the damages brought on by the tsunami. That is also why these resorts are in need of investors who want to infuse their money into the industry for it to get back on track and earning again. Going for an investment in this area would be a good move, as demand is returning to normal and growing quite well. Currently the prices are low, but expected to grow as investments are continually pouring in, increasing the value of this area.