A SURGE in sales of properties by Laguna Phuket indicates better times may be on the way for the Phuket property industry.

Having sold six properties in a year, the island's highly-regarded property and resort brand suddenly found itself celebrating seven sales on a single day this week.

Laguna Phuket Managing Director Michael Ayling was cautiously optimistic about the future of property sales on Phuket when he spoke to Phuketwan yesterday.

''One swallow doesn't make a summer,'' he said. ''We are being realistic about it.''

Seven swallows, though, makes for a neat little flock, and Phuket's weather has certainly brightened lately.

Most of the sales came as a result of an exhibition in Shanghai about four weeks ago, and there was the coincidental sale of a two bedroom pool villa at the Banyan Tree, one of seven resorts that make Laguna Phuket perhaps the region's top destination resort.

Six of the sales were of new properties, and the seventh was a resale.

Laguna Phuket's evolution from resorts into property has seen it sell hundreds of high-end homes, villas and apartments in and around Bang Tao beach, some integrated with the resort brands.

Laguna is seen as among the sharpest and most focused of Phuket property developers, making its mark at overseas exhibitions and on road trips whenever and wherever an active market is perceived.

Mr Ayling also said the tourism business looked as though it would generate more potential buyers this coming high season on Phuket, which extends from December to April.

This year's fourth quarter was shaping well for Laguna Phuket resorts and the first quarter next year could match this year's, which was the second-best on record, Mr Aying said.

He remains hopeful of a return to the better times of 2006-2007, although competition is now far more intense on Phuket and from other popular destinations.

''Things are not perfect but we are moving in the right direction,'' he said.

Laguna Phuket is about to test for the first time a new events concept that has the lagoon sanctuary staging its regular annual triathlon series on November 28 followed by an ironman competition the next weekend.

Mr Ayling spoke about ''foot traffic'' generated for Laguna property by tourism. Perhaps there will be a buyer or two among the athletes.