Southeast Asia may be synonymous with backpackers, but the region offers many more than budget travel destinations. Certain islands and places in the area now represent luxury travel, where high-end private villas, wellness resorts, 5-star hotels, and fine dining intertwine with pristine natural beauty.
While Phuket, Bali, and Hanoi are some of the most recognized names in Southeast Asia for luxury travel and real estate, a few destinations are fast becoming the next best thing.
This article highlights five rising locations for upscale resort real estate in Southeast Asia, where natural beauty, welcoming locals, and the demand for luxury real estate are booming.
Related articles: The Best Luxury Wellness Retreat Resorts in Southeast Asia, Top 3 Islands in Southeast Asia with the Best Selection of Luxury Holiday Villas
5 of Southeast Asia’s Rising Locations for Luxury Real Estate
Photo: The Luxury Signature – Villa Amarasara
More tourists mean more demand for luxury accommodations that offer upscale tropical living. Whether it’s the demand for private villas, beachfront bungalows, upscale condos, or opulent resorts, there’s no question that specific Southeast Asian locations are rapidly rising in popularity.
Subtle destinations slowly emerge when places like Bali or Phuket have become saturated. With this, the demand for upscale real estate increased the value and worth of these locations, creating investments with potentially strong rental or resale yields.
Here is a list of 5 locations that are rapidly emerging as Southeast Asia’s premier destinations for luxury real estate:
Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Samui is a familiar player in luxury travel since it’s the second most famous island in Thailand, only next to Phuket. The island’s average tourist visit is 2.7 million a year, which shows that the island has long been a rising luxury real estate destination. What makes Koh Samui different from Phuket is its slower pace of life, fewer crowds, and its reputation for being a more tranquil location than the former.
From beachfront villas to cliffside mansions, luxury resorts, and boutique hotels, Koh Samui doesn’t look like it’s slowing down in terms of its rise in the region’s luxury real estate market.
Related article: Luxe Samui Offers Luxury Private Villas for the Discerning Traveler
Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang used to be an unlikely destination for tourists in Vietnam. Still, the coastal city has quietly risen to the top of the ranks of luxury travel destinations in the region. It may not be Hanoi or Hoi An just yet, but its sophistication and understated elegance as a city add to its general appeal.
Aside from beautiful beaches, cultural and historical attractions, and a vibrant nightlife, Da Nang has continued to emerge as a luxury real estate destination. From beachfront upscale condos to translated private villas around the city, it’s clear that Da Nang is continuing to thrive in the luxury real estate game.
Related article: 10 Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Vietnam
Cebu, Philippines
With white sand beaches and quiet mountains only minutes away from the city, Cebu is the Philippines’ pride of the south. Located south of Manila and smack in the archipelago’s center, Cebu is the perfect base for the rest of the islands. It has an international airport, 5-star hotels and resorts in the city and the nearby tourist spots, and new upscale condos spurting out of nowhere by the minute.
Cebu’s luxury real estate market continues to grow, offering the perfect combination of urban and rural life on one island.
Related article: The Philippines’ Best Luxury Private Island Resorts
Desaru Coast, Malaysia
With waterparks, golf courses, cruises, and international hotels, Desaru Coast is a world of its own in Malaysia. Time Magazine named it one of the most incredible places in the world in 2021. Located on the southeastern side of Johor, Desaru Coast is considered one of Malaysia’s most coveted new tourism developments.
Offering nature, wildlife, cultural experiences, and family-friendly adventures, Desaru Coast’s rise as a premier tourist destination in the country paved the way for its luxury real estate industry to boom, making this coastal city one of the fastest-rising luxury developments in the region.
Lombok, Indonesia
Last on our list is Lombok, Indonesia, a destination that has gradually gained popularity among foreign tourists in recent years for being hailed as one of the most romantic island destinations in Asia. A more tranquil and less crowded alternative to Bali, this island in West Nusa Tenggara boasts beachfront villas, international resorts, and increasing real estate developments in the luxury sector.
Offering diverse landscapes, quiet counties, and secluded pristine beaches, it provides an idyllic setting for travelers wishing to experience Indonesia without the hustle and bustle of Bali and other top tourist destinations.
In 2023 alone, Lombok welcomed 2 million travelers, which is 20% from the previous year. This number attests to its reputation as one of the fastest-growing travel destinations in the region. And with more tourists comes more demand for luxury real estate, making Lombok a prime location for discerning travelers worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Though these destinations may be in different countries, one common thread ties them all together: pristine natural beauty untapped by over-tourism; however, focusing on luxury real estate is positively seen to be beneficial for these locations, as upscale accommodations offer more of an exclusive and sustainable experience rather than hurried and exploitative strategies for attracting tourists.
When done with quality rather than quantity, luxury real estate markets in these 5 locations are expected to attract discerning tourists geared towards enhanced experiences rather than simply giving in to the hype of popular tourist destinations.
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Featured Image by The Luxury Signature – Villa Chelay
