Tourism in mainland south-east Asia has entered a new era. Thailand, once something of an underground destination, has become hugely popular, attracting more than 12 million tourists every year. Its top resorts, such as Phuket and Koh Samui, are swamped by foreigners, particularly in the winter high season. But political and social trends are reshaping the country’s travel scene…

– Extracted from Joe Cummings, “Beauty at a price”, New Statesman, 17 July 2008.