Given the rise of wellness, health and senior living trends, property developers and construction materials producers are jumping on board to capture demand, which is expected to surge in the post-pandemic recovery.
Autthanop Pandkamnerd, chief executive of property developer Cissa Group, said tourism would be a significant driver of economic recovery after the pandemic subsides because the hospitality sector is the fastest revenue generator.
"Phuket will be the first location to welcome foreign tourists as it is a top global destination and is preparing to reopen in July after mass vaccinations," he said.
One of the first groups to return will be medical tourists, with an estimated spending per person of 80,000-120,000 baht, said Mr Autthanop.
Each nationality has different needs, he said. For instance, the Chinese are interested in in vitro fertilisation and beauty clinics, Americans look for beauty clinics, Australians focus on surgery, Europeans love wellness and people from the Middle East want physical check-ups and wellness, said Mr Autthanop.
Two preferred wellness activities among people from the Middle East are hydrotherapy and halal dietary nutrition programmes, he said.
Cissa is developing Natai Medical Center & Resort, a health and wellness hospital and luxury resort project, with a total investment of 3.5 billion baht through a joint venture with V Plast Medical Group, a plastic surgery specialist in Thailand.
The project is located on a 69-rai plot on Na Tai beach in Phangnga, an emerging tourist destination that is a 30-minute drive from Phuket airport.
The first phase is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2022 and it is preparing a teleconsultancy service and a telemedicine application.
"We will establish marketing centres in target markets like China, Australia, the Middle East and Europe, either through partnerships with local agents or by ourselves," said Mr Autthanop.
Somnuek Tanthathoedtham, managing director of developer N.C. Housing Plc, said Covid-19 has boosted demand for health and well-being services.
"Our three wellness centres received a lot of online and offline contacts from those interested in care-giving services, as well as customers who want to develop a joint venture with us," he said. "The pandemic has changed people's mindset."
Earlier this year, N.C. Housing opened its third wellness centre, Siri Arun Wellness, on Arun Amarin Road. The first two branches -- Siri Arun Care, which was launched last year, and Arun Care in Ubon Ratchathani -- required a combined investment of 100 million baht.
The new business is operated by Siri Arun Wellness Co, a joint venture set up in July 2019 in which N.C. Housing holds 60% and The Care and Health Group Ltd Partnership holds 40%.
The third facility focuses on four groups: after-care patients who have been treated at nearby hospitals; those seeking consultations; customers who want a special check-up or treatment; and the elderly who need special care, said Mr Somnuek.
Construction materials producer SCG Ceramics Plc also launched new products to tap demand for health, wellness and senior care.
Managing director Nampol Malichai said the company will continue promoting products related to health such as hygienic tiles after receiving strong feedback from customers during the pandemic. Last month it launched air-ion tiles, which it claims help eliminate PM2.5 particles.
The company also sells anti-slip tiles with high slip resistance for areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, cleaning areas, parking areas and internal walkways.
Takayasu Shimada, president of Japanese sanitaryware manufacturer Toto (Thailand) Co, said design and layout play significant roles in helping improve the quality of life for the elderly, who are a target market.
"In addition to products and equipment, design and layout must be considered to make it easy for all users," he said.
Mr Shimada said five key factors Toto considered when doing R&D on products and layouts for seniors and disabled living since 2006 are ease of mobility, ease of usage, support for future changes, applicability for all users, and maximum convenience and safety.
In a bathroom, for instance, a suitable distance for a wheelchair's wheels to make a U-turn is around 1.5 metres. As a result, a bathroom should measure at least 2x2m, he said.
"Last year we introduced universal design ideas in restrooms at shopping malls and airports we partnered with so people can see why we emphasise layout in design," said Mr Shimada.
Toto also joined with educational institutions to organise seminars and training to educate the general public and students about universal design and space solutions.
"Toto in Japan now offers a package for toilet renovation as a one-stop service after customers demanded change from a general toilet to an elder-friendly toilet. Prices start from ¥1 million," he said.
"In Thailand, we must educate consumers first."