Koh Samui has been named the best island in the Asia-Pacific region at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards 2026, with the island’s airport and five of its resorts also collecting top-10 finishes across separate categories at the same event.
The recognition was announced by the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Ploythalay Laksamisaengchan, who said the government welcomed the result as a reflection of Koh Samui’s capacity to receive international visitors at a luxury standard while maintaining its natural environment.
Beyond the Best Islands title, Samui International Airport placed second in the Best Airports category for the region, ranked behind Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The airport was recognised by Travel + Leisure for its design, which the organisation noted for its integration with the surrounding natural environment, and for the quality of its passenger services.
Five resorts on the island placed in the top 10 of the Best Beach and Island Resorts in Thailand category. Cape Fahn Hotel took second place, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui placed fifth, Kimpton Kitalay Samui came in seventh, Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort placed eighth, and Centara Reserve Samui ranked ninth.
Ploythalay said the government intends to use the recognition as a basis for further development, with policy focused on distributing tourism income to local communities alongside sustainability, safety improvements, and better connectivity.
The deputy spokesperson also revealed that infrastructure projects are being planned to improve air access to islands on the Andaman Sea coast, and that island tourism would be developed as a model for eco-tourism to preserve natural resources for future generations.
At the same time, tourism operators on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan have backed a government crackdown on “mafia” influence networks they say are damaging the islands’ reputations through extortion, price gouging, and nominee business structures concealing foreign ownership.
State agencies have already begun inspections on both islands, targeting these networks.
The story Koh Samui crowned Asia-Pacific’s best island, airport, resorts also rank as seen on Thaiger News.
