From the moment we entered this extraordinary corner of Surat Thani, the great limestone mountains seemed to be everywhere. They rose beyond the road, appeared unexpectedly through breaks in the forest and towered above the river. Even from our accommodation, they formed a dramatic natural skyline.

This was not the Thailand of beaches, shopping malls and rooftop bars. This was an older land of a green and wonderfully untamed Thailand.

Our base was Lost Horizon Resort, surrounded by rainforest and those extraordinary limestone formations that dominate this part of southern Thailand. The resort was a comfortable retreat, but it never felt disconnected from the landscape we had come to experience.

A landscape written in limestone

You can’t experience Khao Sok without looking up. Great grey-white karst limestone pinnacles rise abruptly from an almost impenetrable sea of green. The limestone here was formed hundreds of millions of years ago, when this part of the world lay beneath an ancient sea. Over immense periods of time, geological movement, tropical rainfall, and flowing water sculpted the cliffs, caves, and dramatic karst formations that define the landscape today.

Standing beneath them, however, the numbers become almost irrelevant. What matters is their sheer presence.

From the river, they seem immense. From Lost Horizon, they feel almost theatrical, great limestone walls rising above the forest. As the light changes through the day, so do the mountains: sometimes cloaked in early-morning mist or sharply defined against a blue sky, and sometimes softened by cloud and tropical humidity.

In Khao Sok, you don’t simply visit the landscape. You live beneath it.

Into the green

Our journey through the forest was one of those occasions when slowing down became part of the experience. The road narrowed, and the vegetation seemed to close around us. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating palms, bamboo and tropical trees in constantly changing shades of green. Then came one of those unscripted encounters that no carefully arranged excursion can reproduce.

A macaque wandered casually across the road in front of us, seemingly far less interested in us than we were in him. Colour appeared everywhere once we began looking for it. Brilliant red hibiscus stood out against the forest, while exotic heliconias emerged from the undergrowth like splashes of tropical paint.

Khao Sok rewards those prepared to slow down and look.

Taking to the water

The perspective changed completely when we reached the river. From a simple bamboo raft, Khao Sok suddenly seemed even larger. The water gently carried us through dense vegetation beneath soaring limestone mountains, with the forest pressing towards the river’s edge. There is something wonderfully calming about surrendering to the river’s gentle pace as we drifted along this meandering highway through the forest. Time seemed to slow with us. It was one of those rare moments when you stop thinking about where you are going and enjoy being exactly where you are.

And then came the moment I will probably remember longest: A wild elephant appeared beside the river. We watched from the water as she moved through the vegetation along the riverbank. There was no performance and no carefully constructed wildlife encounter. We were simply fortunate enough to see this magnificent animal roaming in her natural surroundings. For a few moments there was little conversation. None was necessary. Khao Sok provided its own theatre.

Elsewhere we swam and floated in the jungle surrounded by forest and limestone. No artificial entertainment was needed. The landscape provided it.

Tourism with a local purpose

Experiences such as these also remind us that responsible tourism is about people as well as places. Our local guides knew the river and forest intimately. Around Khao Sok, tourism employs guides, drivers, restaurant and resort staff, farmers, and many others whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly connected to visitors.

At Our Jungle Camp — which shares its roots and philosophy with Lost Horizon Resort — gardens, vegetable beds, and nursery plots offered another glimpse of a tourism model closely connected to its surroundings.

Founded by Richard “Dick” Sandler, Lost Horizon is part of a story that also embraces Our Jungle House and Our Jungle Camp. All three share a philosophy of connecting visitors responsibly with Khao Sok’s extraordinary landscape and its communities, combining conservation and sustainability with local employment and meaningful tourism experiences.

It is a symbiotic relationship. Tourism supports the local community, while the community has every reason to protect the environment that brings visitors here. In Khao Sok, you can see that relationship at work.

A name that brought back memories

The name Lost Horizon also held a wonderfully personal connection for me. James Hilton’s celebrated 1933 novel Lost Horizon introduced the world to the fictional paradise of Shangri-La, a secluded sanctuary hidden among magnificent mountains.

I stayed at my first hotel in Thailand, Shangri-La Bangkok, in 1991, where copies of the novel sat in guest rooms. More than three decades later, staying at Lost Horizon beneath Khao Sok’s magnificent mountains brought back very happy memories.

A comfortable retreat

After days dominated by jungle, river, and rock, returning to Lost Horizon felt like a welcome contrast. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with warm timber furnishings and views towards the surrounding greenery. Thoughtful details made it welcoming, while the architecture and landscaping let nature, not the buildings, command attention. That was perhaps the property’s greatest luxury. The mountains remained outside. The forest remained close.

And Khao Sok never felt shut away behind a hotel door.

Back at our jungle camp

After a day exploring, returning to Our Jungle Camp brought us to another side of the Khao Sok experience. The property feels connected to its surroundings rather than separated from them. Tropical vegetation dominates, traditional-style accommodation sits among the greenery, and gardens and cultivated areas provide a softer transition between resort and forest. After days dominated by jungle, river, and rock, returning to comfortable accommodation felt like a welcome contrast.

Our room was spacious and pleasantly traditional, with warm timber furniture, twin beds and a balcony opening directly towards the surrounding greenery and stream. 

The bathroom combined contemporary fittings with traditional decorative touches, including a particularly handsome patterned basin, while the large rain shower was especially welcome after a humid day exploring.

Small details mattered too. Tea, coffee, snacks and a proper coffee machine made the room feel welcoming rather than austere.

The public areas continued the property’s character with rattan furniture, timber, patterned floor tiles, and artwork recalling an earlier era of tropical travel.

It had a gentle nostalgia, a suggestion of the days when travelling somewhere remote really did mean leaving much of the outside world behind.

More than a national park

What struck me most about Khao Sok was the variety contained within a relatively short journey. We encountered wildlife, brilliant tropical flowers, forest, caves, rivers and some of the most dramatic limestone scenery in southern Thailand.

Yet Khao Sok does not need to shout. No manufactured attraction could improve the view from a bamboo raft. No giant screen could compete with wild elephants moving beside a river. No architect could design a more impressive backdrop than mountains formed over hundreds of millions of years.

As travellers increasingly seek nature, authenticity, and meaningful experiences, places like Khao Sok represent an enormously important part of Thailand’s tourism future. The challenge is to protect them while ensuring that the communities living alongside them share meaningfully in tourism’s benefits.

Khao Sok is not simply somewhere to photograph. It is somewhere to listen, observe and occasionally do very little at all.

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier based in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of hospitality and tourism experience in Asia and Europe. A long-standing member of Skål International since 1992, Andrew has held senior leadership positions in Thailand and across Asia. He is also an elected Director of the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC), responsible for tourism, and remains actively involved with Thailand’s tourism and hospitality community. The views expressed are personal. 

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Chosen from 21 competing destinations, India is demonstrating something increasingly evident across business, technology and international affairs: it is ready and willing to step onto the global podium.

And India has every reason to be proud of what it has achieved.

With a population approaching 1.5 billion, an economy estimated by the IMF at around USD4.15 trillion in 2026, and projected real GDP growth of 6.5% this year, its scale is extraordinary.

Tourism provides another measure of that growing economic power. Indians made 32.83 million overseas departures in 2025, up 6.3% year-on-year. WTTC estimates that Travel & Tourism contributed USD263.6 billion to India’s economy in 2025 and supported 46.2 million jobs. It forecasts India rising from the world’s tenth-largest Travel & Tourism economy to fourth by 2036.

Indian arrivals reached 1.96 million in 2019. After the pandemic interruption, they recovered to 1.63 million in 2023, passed two million in 2024 and reached 2.49 million in 2025, generating approximately THB93.86 billion.

Thailand has a front-row seat to this transformation

India is now firmly one of Thailand’s most important tourism source markets. It supports demand across airlines, airports, hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail, transport and destination services. More importantly, the opportunity is not simply to attract more Indian visitors, but to increase the value generated by each visit.

Then there are weddings

Thailand has become a major international destination for Indian celebrations, hosting more than 400 Indian weddings annually in recent years. The wider Indian wedding and honeymoon market has been valued at more than USD130 billion.

These are high-value, multi-day events involving hotels, restaurants, transport, entertainment and often hundreds of guests. I recall hosting several at The Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH), Royal Cliff in Pattaya. 

Each wedding can become a temporary economic ecosystem involving resorts, caterers, florists, decorators, photographers, performers, production companies and local suppliers. Guests often extend their stay, spreading spending well beyond the wedding venue.

My own relationship with India goes back many years, particularly through my work with Skål Asia and Skål Thailand. Those responsibilities put me in regular contact with Indian tourism leaders and colleagues and let me experience firsthand the extraordinary depth of the country’s travel and hospitality community.

I was also privileged to speak at a TAFI event, the Travel Agents Federation of India. I remember being particularly impressed by the event’s professionalism and the remarkable camaraderie and support within the Indian travel community.

That sense of community was equally evident at Skål gatherings in India. The quality of the hotels and organisation impressed me, but what stayed with me most was the warmth, confidence and sheer energy of the people involved.

India today has enormous pride in what it has achieved. Cities such as Hyderabad also illustrate another dimension of modern India. A new generation of highly educated young professionals working in technology, IT, digital services and international business is helping connect India ever more closely to the global economy. India has become a powerhouse in information technology while producing business and professional talent increasingly visible on the international stage.

That growing influence is also reflected in the number of Indians and people of Indian origin holding senior positions across multinational corporations, technology companies, international institutions, and global professional organisations. India is increasingly not simply represented at the table. Its people are helping to lead the discussion.

Tourism reflects that same transformation

Last week, at the Skål World Congress in South Africa, NSN Mohan of India was elected World President of Skål International, becoming the first Indian to hold the organisation’s highest office in its 92-year history. His election is another milestone for India and reflects the country’s growing influence and leadership in the global travel and tourism community.

Therefore, bringing WTTC’s world summit to Delhi feels entirely appropriate. India is no longer simply a huge emerging market whose potential lies somewhere in the future.

India: The future is here

For Thailand, there is an important lesson. China will remain fundamental to our tourism industry, but India represents an enormous second Asian engine of growth. Its expanding middle class, improving air connectivity, appetite for international travel and demand for weddings, family holidays, MICE, wellness and premium experiences create opportunities that Thailand is exceptionally well positioned to capture.

Having watched India’s tourism community develop over many years, I would never underestimate its ambition, professionalism or determination.

For Thailand, ASEAN and the wider international tourism industry, the message is straightforward:

India is a force to work with, not simply a sales opportunity; an outbound travel market to tap.

About the Author

Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier based in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of hospitality and tourism experience in Asia and Europe, including senior appointments with Shangri-La, Minor International, Landmark Lancaster Hotel Group, Chaophya Park and Royal Cliff Hotels Group.

A Skål member since 1992, Andrew is a former Director and also President of Skål Asia and Skål Thailand, and has twice served as President of Skål International Bangkok. He is an active member of SATCC and affiliated associations and chambers. He writes on tourism, aviation, hospitality and sustainable destination development. The views expressed in his articles are his own.

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Robinson’s latest video venture, “I Love My Life in the Sun”, features London-based singer Luke White’s distinctive vocals and was filmed on Koh Talu, a small island in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on the Gulf of Thailand, 300 km south of Bangkok.

“I Love My Life in the Sun”, featuring the distinctive vocals of London-based singer Luke White, was filmed on Koh Talu, where white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and tropical scenery create a fitting backdrop for a song celebrating life’s simple pleasures in the sunshine.

I first met Will through connections surrounding the extraordinary Tham Luang cave rescue in Chiang Rai in 2018, when 12 young footballers and their coach were trapped deep in a mountain cave system. 

His musical tributes to those involved reflected a quality I have come to admire: an ability to connect with people and tell their stories with warmth and respect.

Since then, I have followed his regular music and video releases. 

His latest project shines a spotlight on Koh Talu, where natural beauty sits alongside an important conservation story. Hawksbill turtles come ashore to nest on the island’s quiet beaches, while its sanctuary cares for young turtles as they develop before being released into the sea.

The island setting gives the video an appeal beyond its sunny soundtrack. It introduces audiences to a corner of Thailand where beaches, marine life and conservation are closely connected.

For more than a decade, Robinson has shared Thailand’s beauty and culture with international audiences through The Isan Project. The project’s popular “Amazing Thailand” song has recorded more than 10 million audio plays across Meta platforms. A catalogue of around 20 songs has provided the foundation for his continuing musical exploration of the Kingdom.

Will Robinson and Daniel Ryan wrote “I Love My Life in the Sun”, co-produced by Robinson and Rob Cass and mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios in London.

For me, the appeal of Will’s work lies in the way he combines music with a personal connection to Thailand. This latest release continues that journey, inviting viewers to discover Koh Talu through a song with sunshine at its heart.

About the Author

Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier based in Thailand since 1991. CEO of A&P Media, he brings more than four decades of hospitality experience in Asia and Europe.

A member of Skål International since 1992, he has served as a Director and President at the association’s Asia levels, including two terms in Bangkok. He also serves on the Board of the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC). His writing covers tourism, aviation, hospitality and sustainable destination development.

(The views expressed are the author’s own and do not represent those of any association, chamber or committee with which he is involved).

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Having flown extensively as a traveller for more than 45 years, I found the reports about Flydubai flight FZ1073 deeply unsettling. My first reaction was relief that the aircraft landed safely. Then came the questions.

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot reportedly stabbed aboard Wednesday’s Israel-bound flight, deserves recognition for his extraordinary heroic courage. According to published accounts, despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and other crew members to intervene and restrain the alleged attacker. His actions helped avert what could have been a catastrophe.

Like frequent travellers, I have boarded aircraft countless times, confident in the professionalism of the people at the controls. 

As a travel writer and former hotelier, I also think about passenger confidence and international tourism. At this stage, however, I feel it is much too early to judge any wider implications.

The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv service diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an alleged attack on the captain and a rapid descent. Accounts describe passengers and crew intervening before the aircraft landed safely.

Beyond that broad outline, considerable uncertainty remains. Much of the discussion centres on the accused co-pilot, yet relatively little verified information about his background has been made public. The reporting reviewed has not disclosed his complete employment history, training records, or recruitment checks.

Claims concerning radicalisation and extremist social-media activity are serious, but the underlying evidence has not been made fully available for independent examination. Accounts of religious observance do not establish violent intent.

In my mind, this distinction is essential. The seriousness of an allegation does not remove the need to verify it.

Questions about the co-pilot

The questions I find myself asking are straightforward. Was the alleged attack premeditated? Did the suspect act alone? Did the destination influence his actions? Were there earlier indications of a credible threat?

Planning and acting alone are separate issues. An individual could have prepared an attack without assistance. Equally, the available reporting does not establish that either preparation or outside involvement occurred.

I am also interested in what investigators establish about the alleged weapon, how it became available in the cockpit and whether any relevant security procedure was breached.

Until those answers emerge, I would be reluctant to attribute failure to an airport, airline or individual responsible for screening.

Checks and balances

Having spent so much of my professional and personal life travelling, I naturally wonder how aviation’s safeguards address a threat from someone already authorised to enter the cockpit.

Will the investigation prompt a closer look at the balance between initial recruitment checks and continuing security assessment? Could periodic reviews, verified references or confidential channels for reporting specific concerns provide additional protection?

These are questions arising from what I have read. I do not know whether any such measure would have prevented this incident, or whether existing arrangements were properly followed.

What I feel matters is that any eventual response is grounded in evidence. Nationality, religion and personal beliefs cannot substitute for evidence of threatening behaviour.

Tourism perspective

For tourists and travellers, the immediate concern is understandable: what happened, and what might it mean for their journey?

My own view is that there is currently too little verified information to assess any lasting effect on international tourism. The wider impact may prove limited, but that too remains to be seen.

This single incident does not, in itself, indicate a wider change in the safety of air travel. What interests me is how the investigation’s findings may influence passenger confidence, airline procedures and the decisions travellers make.

After more than 49 years of flying, I appreciate how deeply travellers depend on trust. For me, maintaining that trust means investigating thoroughly, communicating clearly, and letting the evidence guide our understanding.

About the Author

Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer, tourism commentator and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. He is CEO of A&P Media and writes for travel and hospitality publications across Asia and internationally.

(Source: Research for this commentary included Juergen T Steinmetz’s article, “Who Was the Pilot on Flydubai Flight FZ1073?”, published by eTurboNews on 1 October 2026, Israel Travel News, and Saudi Arabia Travel News. Additional material included Reuters reporting dated 30 September and 1 October.)

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The declaration took effect on 25 September, enabling district offices to assess damage and arrange assistance for affected residents.

Rain has continued since Wednesday, with about 300 mm reported in less than two days. Floodwater has reached around 60 cm in some locations. Roads and vehicles have been submerged, while severe congestion has delayed journeys across Bangkok and surrounding areas. Rain continued through the weekend but eased by late Sunday. Passengers heading to the city’s two airports faced long commutes. 

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt convened Bangkok’s 50 district offices and relevant agencies on Saturday to coordinate the response. The measures include identifying vulnerable residents and patients who may need assistance, preparing temporary shelters in BMA schools, arranging transport, deploying sandbags and accelerating drainage. District offices have also been instructed to coordinate with traffic police and monitor roads affected by rising water.

The citywide declaration provides a framework for assistance; it does not mean that every district or household has experienced flooding to the same extent. Residents seeking support must report damage to their district office for assessment. The BMA has advised affected households to retain photographs and other evidence of damage to homes and possessions.

The flooding had immediate consequences for businesses. Staff were unable to reach workplaces, deliveries were delayed, and employers were told to check conditions before asking staff to travel and make practical arrangements where routes are affected.

Hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses face similar operational difficulties. Guests need accurate advice about journeys to and from properties, particularly when travelling with luggage or working to a flight schedule. Operators should confirm transfer routes shortly before departure and keep guests informed if access changes. Airports continue to operate while roads leading to them are partially blocked, causing disruptions. Staff shortages are also delaying baggage services at airports. 

Bangkok’s drainage system is under sustained pressure from the rain’s volume and duration. Officials are working to remove water and clear obstructions from drainage routes. Their immediate task is to maintain access, support households in flooded areas and provide clear updates as conditions change.

Once the water recedes, the BMA will need to assess damage and the performance of drainage, canals and public warnings. For residents and businesses, the priority is a timely account of which routes have reopened, what assistance is available and how long disruption is likely to continue.

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a Bangkok-based travel writer who has lived in Thailand since 1991.

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That is perhaps the most striking conclusion from the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast for 2026–2045.

To understand the enormity, look at the global numbers. The world’s passenger aircraft fleet is forecast to grow from around 23,310 aircraft at the end of 2025 to 45,550 by 2045, almost doubling in just two decades.

Airbus estimates it will need to deliver 42,060 new aircraft during that period. Around 33,920 will be single-aisle aircraft and 8,140 widebodies.

Nearly 20,000 will replace older aircraft, but another 22,240 will be required to accommodate growth.

Asia-Pacific is expected to account for an extraordinary 45% of new passenger aircraft demand.

Passenger traffic in the region is forecast to grow by 5.1% annually, considerably faster than the global average. That means more aircraft, more passengers and potentially hundreds of new connections.

For Southeast Asia, the implications are enormous.

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines sit in one of aviation’s great growth corridors. Longer-range single-aisle aircraft also make direct services between secondary cities increasingly practical.

For Thailand, could Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and other regional gateways capture substantially more direct international traffic rather than funnelling passengers through Bangkok?

But is there an elephant in the room, or in this instance, the departure lounge? What happens to emissions if Asian air travel expands on anything approaching this scale?

Fleet renewal will help. New-generation aircraft are considerably more fuel-efficient than many of the aircraft they replace. But another important part of the equation is Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF.

Unlike conventional jet fuel made entirely from fossil crude oil, SAF can be produced from sources including waste oils, agricultural and forestry residues and, increasingly, synthetic fuels made using renewable energy.

Aircraft still produce carbon dioxide when SAF is burned, but the potential benefit comes from its life-cycle carbon footprint. Carbon absorbed or recycled in producing the fuel can substantially reduce net greenhouse-gas emissions compared with conventional fossil jet fuel.

SAF can also be blended with existing jet fuel and used in today’s aircraft and airport fuel systems, making it a practical near-term option. At the same time, hydrogen and other new propulsion technologies remain much further off.

The challenge is producing enough of it, at an affordable price, to make a meaningful difference as Asian aviation expands.

Asia therefore faces two races.

The first is commercial: airlines, airports and destinations competing for aircraft, routes and passengers.

The second is environmental: cleaner aircraft, fuels and operations racing against rapidly increasing demand.

Thailand needs to think about both.

Can Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang accommodate another generation of growth? Can regional airports capture more international services? Can Thailand expand aviation training, maintenance and aerospace industries? And can cleaner aviation infrastructure grow alongside passenger numbers?

Asia-Pacific taking 45 per cent of future global aircraft demand represents an extraordinary shift in aviation’s centre of gravity.

The aircraft are coming.

The much bigger question is whether Asia will be ready for them.

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a Bangkok-based travel writer and former hotel executive with almost five decades of experience in hospitality and tourism. He chairs the Tourism Committee of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) for 2026–2028 and is a long-standing member of Skål International.

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I remember being impressed then, so I was delighted to be invited back recently to update myself on the hotel and its facilities.

The timing of that first visit is worth remembering. Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort officially opened on 1 October 2020 (the first Four Points in Thailand) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so when I first inspected the property in 2021, it was still a very new resort. Opening a 600-room beachfront hotel during one of the most difficult periods the global travel industry has ever faced was no small undertaking, making its subsequent development and success all the more noteworthy.

Having recently attended a conference in Phuket’s Laguna area, I took the opportunity to extend my stay on the island and spend four days and three nights at Four Points.

What struck me immediately was how little this 600-room resort feels like a 600-room hotel.

The property is predominantly low-rise, with water and tropical landscaping playing an important role in its design. There is an almost lagoon-like quality as you walk through the resort, with pools, narrow waterways and water features appearing throughout the grounds.

For me, one of the most enjoyable areas is The Deck Beach Club. Its infinity-style pool and beachfront setting create a lively atmosphere, helped along by music and a DJ, while attentive staff circulate with menus and drinks. Plenty of sunbeds and shaded areas meant I never felt overwhelmed, despite its popularity.

Families are also particularly well catered for. The Little Sea Gypsies Kids’ Club was supervised every time I passed it on the way to my room and, judging by the number of young guests using it, clearly fulfils its purpose very successfully.

The accommodation itself deserves mentioning. There are eight room types, and I found the contemporary design comfortable and practical rather than unnecessarily elaborate. High ceilings and large floor-to-ceiling windows give the rooms a sense of space, while some categories have balconies, ocean views, or terraces providing direct access to the pool.

I was particularly interested to discover the Superior Triple Rooms, an increasingly useful option for families and groups of friends travelling together.

 They overlook the resort pool and accommodate up to three guests with a sofa bed, with configurations including either a king bed or two double beds.

It is a simple idea, but in my opinion an important one. Too often three people travelling together are forced either to book two rooms or compromise on comfort. Here, the third guest can be accommodated properly while everyone remains together.

There are also pool-access rooms for those who want to step directly from their private terrace into the water, while families wanting considerably more space can choose a two-bedroom Family Suite, complete with a separate children’s room and specially designed facilities for younger guests.

For those interested in meetings and conferences, however, this resort has another side altogether.

The conference facilities were one of the principal reasons for my original visit in 2021, and they are even more impressive today. The Akara Grand Ballroom now features an enormous 9m by 5m LED wall, opening up considerable possibilities for conference organisers and event planners. The ballroom accommodates up to 500 guests and is complemented by a junior ballroom and numerous meeting and breakout rooms.

With two levels of meeting facilities, escalator access, generous reception and pre-function areas and extensive indoor and outdoor event space, I found myself once again thinking that this is a serious conference hotel disguised rather cleverly as a beach resort.

Food and beverage was another highlight of my stay.

I particularly enjoyed Sears & Co. Bar and Grill, where guests can dine indoors in air-conditioned comfort or outside overlooking Patong Beach. The resort runs numerous dining promotions, including grilled meats, seafood and seasonal buffet offerings, adding welcome variety for guests staying several nights.

Breakfast at Chao Leh Kitchen deserves a special mention. In my opinion, it is one of the most extensive hotel breakfast buffets I have encountered in recent years.

Rather than one seemingly endless buffet line, the food is divided among different kitchen areas, offering Asian, Indian and Western favourites alongside traditional breakfast dishes. The selection seems endless, and during my stay it was extremely well patronised. Despite that, service remained efficient, friendly and remarkably well organised.

Location is another major advantage.

The hotel sits directly opposite Patong Beach. Cross the road, and you are on one of Phuket’s best-known stretches of golden sand, extending for approximately three kilometres.

I took an early morning exercise walk along the beachfront and found it one of the most fascinating walks I have enjoyed recently. (I walk a lot). Patong is already coming alive at 0630. Vendors prepare for the day, people exercise, restaurants and stalls open, and massage areas and beach businesses gradually spring into action.

Later, of course, the beach becomes considerably livelier. There is parasailing, jet skiing, and other water sports, along with volleyball, food vendors, restaurants, and the almost continuous energy Patong is famous for.

And that, for me, is part of the attraction. You can enjoy the facilities and relative calm of a large resort. Yet the moment you step outside, you are very much in Phuket, with Patong Beach and its extraordinary mixture of people, food, entertainment, and activity immediately in front of you.

For anyone considering a stay, it is also worth checking the hotel’s website before booking, as seasonal packages and special offers are regularly available. Marriott Bonvoy members should also check the benefits and rates available to them, which can add further value to a Phuket stay.

Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort manages an interesting balancing act. It is large without feeling enormous, lively without being overwhelming, and equally capable of accommodating a couple, three friends sharing a room, a family holiday, a beachfront escape, a wedding, or a substantial international conference.

Five years after my first inspection, I found a resort that has matured considerably.

Sometimes returning to a hotel tells you much more than visiting it for the first time. In this case, I came away more impressed than I had been in 2021.

About the Author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of experience in international hospitality and tourism. He chairs the JFCCT Tourism Committee for 2026–2028 and has held senior leadership roles with Skål International in Thailand and Asia.

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MAG, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines and Firefly, has expanded strategic alliances with leading travel industry organisations in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The initiative combines airline connectivity with travel-trade distribution, joint marketing, consumer promotions and destination development, giving Malaysia a coordinated platform to attract both visitors and connecting passengers through Kuala Lumpur.

In Malaysia, MAG has renewed its partnership with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) for another three years, continuing as Official Airline Partner and Premier Sponsor of MATTA Fair.

In Singapore, it has partnered with the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), while in Indonesia, an agreement with ASTINDO will support airline and destination promotions.

Thailand is also firmly in the strategy. MAG will work with the Thai Travel Agents Association through the Thai International Travel Fair. Meanwhile in the Philippines, its partnership with Travel Innovators will use the Travel Madness Expo to develop leisure, corporate and MICE business.

The timing is significant. Malaysia is currently promoting Visit Malaysia 2026, while Malaysia Airlines continues to strengthen Kuala Lumpur’s regional and international connectivity.

The airline will resume Kuala Lumpur–Busan services in December and increase frequencies to Brisbane, Surabaya, and Fukuoka.

For Thailand, this deserves attention.

Bangkok has long enjoyed one of Southeast Asia’s strongest natural advantages as an aviation and tourism hub. Its geographical position, enormous hotel inventory, extensive airline network and popularity as a destination in its own right make it an obvious gateway for travellers exploring the region.

But neighbouring countries increasingly recognise that aviation connectivity cannot be considered separately from tourism strategy.

Kuala Lumpur is combining airlines, travel agents, destination marketing and government tourism ambitions. Singapore, meanwhile, remains one of Asia’s most efficient aviation hubs and continues to invest heavily in the passenger experience.

The question, therefore, is not simply which airport handles the most passengers. It is which destination can persuade travellers to arrive, connect, stop over, stay longer and spend more.

For Thailand, maintaining Bangkok’s gateway position will require more than additional airline seats. Airport efficiency, immigration, transit convenience, regional connectivity, visa-free entry, destination marketing and the quality of the visitor experience all form part of the equation.

Southeast Asia’s tourism gateway battle is becoming increasingly competitive. Bangkok possesses formidable advantages, but Kuala Lumpur is making it clear that it wants a much larger share of the traffic.

About the Author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of experience in international hospitality and tourism. He chairs the JFCCT Tourism Committee for 2026–2028 and has held senior leadership roles with Skål International in Thailand and Asia.

The post BKK, KUL and SIN pursue gateway status appeared first on TTR Weekly.

The appointments bring together the couple’s extensive experience in travel, tourism, business, operations and community engagement with a longstanding commitment to service.

Auxiliary Lieutenant Nongnuch Pattison has been appointed to Business & Operational Support and Social & Community Services in Bangkok.

Auxiliary Lieutenant Rodney Pattison has been appointed to Social & Community Services and National Lead, Partnership & Fundraising, a role that will see him develop relationships with businesses, organisations, supporters and communities across Thailand.

Rodney and Nuch are well known to many in Australia’s travel industry. They are also friends and colleagues whose careers I have followed with considerable interest.

Rodney’s early expertise included website marketing and using website software as a strategic business tool at a time when the travel industry was only beginning to appreciate its commercial potential.

Through their travel company, Travel Connections, Rodney and Nuch subsequently developed considerable expertise in the Australian cruise market

The company became particularly well regarded for efficiently handling cruise passengers and the complex logistics of embarkation and disembarkation, an area requiring meticulous organisation, communication, and attention to detail.

Those skills should translate well into their new responsibilities involving operations, partnerships, fundraising and community engagement.

The Pattisons’ association with The Salvation Army is also deeply personal. Rodney comes from a family with strong Salvation Army connections, and the organisation’s traditions of faith, service, and music have influenced him throughout his life. His father was closely involved with The Salvation Army in Australia, while music also became a bond between father and son, both accomplished musicians.

“Nuch and I are deeply honoured to have been appointed to serve in Thailand,” Rodney said. “After many years connected with the travel industry, we are looking forward to using our experience, relationships and skills in a very different way, supporting communities and helping strengthen the work of The Salvation Army in Thailand.”

Friends and colleagues from Thailand’s travel, tourism and business communities are invited to welcome Rodney and Nongnuch at a special gathering on Sunday, 11 October 2026 at 1030 at The Salvation Army Foundation, Preecha Complex, Ratchadaphisek Road 20, Bangkok.

“Thailand has been an important part of our lives for many years,” Rodney added. “We would love to see friends from across the travel and tourism industry join us in Bangkok.”

For two people whose professional lives have long been about connecting people and places, Bangkok now marks the beginning of a very different journey, one centred on service, community and giving something back.

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of experience in international hospitality and tourism. A longstanding member of Skål International, he is a former Director and Past President of Skål International Asia, Thailand and Bangkok. Currently, he serves as Vice President of Skål International Bangkok and a member of the Skål Asia Board. He writes on travel, tourism, hospitality and Asia-Pacific industry developments.

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Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Pancharoenworakul says the proposal is expected to go before Cabinet on 22 September, with a government budget of around THB3.5 billion.

Under the latest proposal, the scheme will subsidise up to one million hotel room nights, with each eligible Thai traveller able to receive support for up to five nights. Accommodation support would be capped at THB2,000 per night, alongside digital vouchers intended to encourage spending at restaurants, attractions and other tourism businesses.

Is November to February the best time for this promotion?

These are traditionally Thailand’s strongest tourism months, when hotels in popular destinations charge high-season rates and expect strong occupancy.

There is another curiosity. The proposed programme runs from 1 November 2026 to 28 February 2027, yet subsidies would reportedly be suspended from 15 December to 15 January, covering the Christmas and New Year peak.

That removes roughly one quarter of the four-month promotional period. Poor marketing, in my mind.  

The reasoning is understandable. Why subsidise rooms when demand is already at its strongest? But that raises the broader question of whether government money would be more effective in stimulating travel during genuinely softer periods.

Hotel participation is another challenge. Properties expecting high occupancies at normal high-season rates may have little incentive to allocate rooms to subsidised domestic business.

Affordability matters too. A subsidy of up to Baht 2,000 sounds attractive, but against high-season room rates, the remaining cost may still be more than some of the Thai travellers the programme is intended to encourage want to pay.

Secondary destinations could gain incremental business; restaurants and attractions would benefit from additional spending, while hotels could use the scheme to fill softer midweek inventory.

That may be where the greatest opportunity lies.

The real measure of success should not simply be whether the one million subsidised room nights are used, but how much genuinely additional tourism they create.

If taxpayers subsidise holidays that would have happened anyway, the return is questionable. If the scheme generates new trips, fills otherwise empty rooms and directs travellers towards secondary destinations, it could be money well spent.

The concept has merit. The question remains: is high season really the right season to make it work?

About the author
Andrew J Wood is a British-born travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand since 1991. A graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh, he has more than four decades of international hospitality and tourism experience. He chairs the JFCCT Tourism Committee for 2026–2028 and has held senior leadership roles with Skål International and in Thailand and Asia.

POSTSCRIPT

BANGKOK, 18 September 2026: Since this article was written, the government has indicated that the proposed Thai Travel Plus domestic tourism stimulus will be postponed from October 2026 to April 2027.
Interestingly, the reasoning goes directly to the question raised in the original TTRW report: Is the high season really the right time to subsidise domestic travel?
The Thai government now appears to have concluded that introducing the programme during a period when hotels and tourism businesses already enjoy stronger demand would have limited additional impact.
Andrew Wood

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