(An aerial view of the villas featuring a river in Forest Harmony Luxury Villa in Kampot province. Supplied)
Property developers in Cambodia are now expanding their business into constructing holiday homes, primarily due to increasing demand for second or third homes from high-income Cambodians.
According to Duy Panhareth, a Business Development Manager for Century 21, while there are many eco-focused hotels and resorts in Cambodia, many upper-class Cambodians are starting to prefer owning a holiday home rather than renting from a hotel or resort - and they’re very much willing to pay for it.
”Kampot shows a lot of potential,'' said Panhareth as his company recently represented a luxury villa in the area. “There are a lot of resorts but they’re mostly for holiday rentals. Our goal now is to give Cambodians the option to purchase holiday villas,” he added.
Adding that the price for one villa is around $170,000 and is geared towards the middle and high-class markets. “We found that this demographic goes overseas for the holidays since there is no place nor resort for them to get away and relax. Kampot is soon becoming a good alternative for a holiday getaway,” Mr. Panhareth said.
A popular location for these holiday villas is near the mountain valley surrounded by the forest. Villas located in these locations offer stunning panoramic views of the gorgeous green landscape, making it the perfect retreat for nature lovers and even those simply looking to get away from the busy city.
Each of the country’s 25 provinces offers something unique that developers are eager to highlight. Siem Reap is currently ahead in terms of eco-resorts as the Angkor Wat complex is already a top tourist draw. Eco-resort projects have also started in Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Kampong Speu, and Preah Sihanouk provinces.
Close behind Siem Reap is Sihanoukville; the presence of an international airport in the city makes it easy for Cambodians and foreign tourists alike to treat themselves to a weekend getaway in major seaside resort developments such as Prince Tian Xi Wan and enjoy Sihanoukville’s famed beaches.
Soy Sinal, director for the tourism department in Kampot province, said the concept of developing a holiday villa and selling it to individual buyers is a growing trend that should soon be followed by other developers. He notes that there are many investors who expressed interest in similar projects in the province.
”Kampot’s potential as a vacation getaway for Cambodians and foreign tourists alike stems from its geography as a coastal province,” he continued “The province has a lot of natural features, such as the fresh sea breeze, green forests, and the Bokor Mountain. We are absolutely in favor of Cambodians purchasing second homes in Kampot, and we will support developers who will pursue such projects here.” the tourism director concluded.
(A snapshot of a lake within Forest Harmony Luxury Villa property in Kampot province. Supplied)
Chrek Soknim, president of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association, agreed that the concept of a second home and leisure development is a new trend that’s gaining momentum in Cambodia, but emphasised it’s still in its early stages.
”The living standards of Cambodians are getting better. After they have their own home, they will start considering properties specifically for their retirement, leisure and relaxation,” he said.
Kampot, Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, and Kep are the new target locations for developers looking to get a piece of the holiday home market. In the future, this type of property will gain more demand among Cambodians, he added.
According to Soknim, developers who are looking to invest in holiday and leisure home properties generally focus on villas located in the coastal areas, hills, and mountainsides. Villas in these areas usually cost anywhere between $150,000 to $250,000 each.
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