Samui Airport's 10th Birthday

Samui Airport will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the first Bangkok Airways flight to the island on Apr. 25. The first plane to land was flight, a 30 seater Dash 8. That flight was the key that opened the door of tourism to the island. Then the runway was little more than a landing strip cut into a coconut plantation. On that sunny morning few people had heard of Koh Samui expect perhaps for the friends and family of the backpackers who were the islands earliest tourists who access had only been possible by ferry from Surat Thani.

That was then, today Samui Airport at the north end of the Island has a extended runway of 1,800 meters; the very latest safety equipment and; customs and immigration facilities allowing international flights to land. All due to the effort and commitment of Bangkok Airways who privately own the airfield.

Samui Airport is unique. When a tourist arrives they almost feel as if they have been taken straight to the reception desk at their hotel, it is just too pleasant and relaxed, not fitting that stereotype image of an international airport, hyper stressed, impersonal, tension creased. It is hardly surprising that a visitors first impressions of this airport are of calm and tranquillity. But that was just what its designers aimed for with this airport. They were looking for a concept that would be at peace and in harmony with both the culture and nature of the island. Those efforts have been rewarded with several awards from the Siam Architecs Association.

The World has now woken to the fact that Samui is just one hours flying time from Bangkok; 45 minutes from Phuket and only two hours from Singapore. From wherever a journey starts in the world, Samui the island of dreams is little more then the blink of na eye away. When the eye opens in Samui it will see a lush tropical island of coconut groves, brilliant blue crystal clear water only broken by the wake of a small fishing boat setting out to sea and podery white sand that is as fine as flour.

To have a dream come true, first you have that dream. Let your dream be a visit to the island of Samui.