A jewel in the crown of Asia

News and Chronicle reporter Emma Newlands travelled to Thailand to discover a resort that has just opened its doors and which has very much been designed with sustainability in mind.

After arriving in Bangkok, it is only a short flight to the world-famous destination of Phuket followed by an hour-long drive to the idyllic, picturesque and secluded destination of Khao Lak, a seaside resort located 50 miles north of Phuket International Airport in Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province.

And a major new addition to Khao Lak is the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, which opened its doors for business on November 1.

The 298-room complex looks out onto a stretch of Khuk Khak Beach two thirds of a mile long, and as soon as you set foot in the opulent, Oriental-style lobby it is clear that luxury motivates every single detail.

Guests are welcomed with a floral garland made of orchids and presented with a freshly-made mango drink, and the luxurious atmosphere is crystallised when you enter the main area of the complex, with a vast and elaborately-designed lagoon-style pool stretching just under two miles, and accommodation sitting at right angles to the seafront.

The striking design means that guests in poolside rooms can simply walk out onto their terrace and head straight into the water before swimming under Monet-style footbridges, perhaps heading directly to the poolside bar.

Rooms are Thai-inspired, combining state-of-the-art modern facilities like 40" flatscreen TVs as well as nods to Thai heritage with teak wood furnishings and intricate rich Thai silks.

Accordingly, giving something back to Thai culture and the Khao Lak community was evidently a top priority when the complex was conceived.

Ms. Suchada Termtechatipong, senior public relations manager, Thailand told the News & Chronicle that the resort is very concerned about the environment, culture, tradition and sustainability of the planet - and that it hopes to redistribute some of the hotel's income to help the local community.

Ms Termtechatipong, added: "Sustainable tourism must be initiated and worked out to include natural resource conservation and a creative kind of tourism, rather than tourism for pleasure alone.

"The local people should participate in developing this kind of tourism and in gaining economic interest from tourism at the same time.

"We believe that could be used to create economic revenue, a fair distribution of income to local people and at the same time a conservation of the environment, culture and tradition."

The resort employs 200 polite and attentive staff, and guests really do want for nothing, from the selection of seven restaurants and bars, with Thai, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines.

There is also a luxurious beachside spa complex, Quan, with therapeutic spa treatments to get the knots out of aching muscles, a beauty salon, junior club for youngsters of all ages, a gym, two flood-lit tennis

courts and a squash court - plus extensive business facilities.

It is a particularly remarkable transformation bearing in mind that Khao Lak has been described as the "ground zero" of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami - with a previous hotel incarnation on the site hit by the disaster only three days after its opening.

And, five years after the tragedy, throughout Khao Lak there is the occasional, poignant visual reminder of that day's events - from evacuation signs dotted on street corners to the International Tsunami Museum nestled amongst roadside bars and hostels.

The community in Khao Lak is ethnically diverse - mostly Thai, often with some Chinese ancestry plus Buddhists and Muslims - and an estimated 4000 lives were lost in the area when the Tsunami struck (although the real figure is believed to be much higher).

From the roadside it is even possible to briefly glimpse a trawler brought ashore by the force of the water - it now stands as a memorial and is a powerful indicator of the power of nature.

But while the trail of destruction will clearly never be forgotten - it is clear that the regeneration that resorts like this are bringing to the community provide a welcome and much-needed boost to the area, both financially and emotionally.

Environmentally-friendly activities include white water rafting, which is considered to be an eco-tourism trip in the Ton Pariwat Wildlife Conservation Area situated in Tambon Song Phraek, on a route between Phang-nga town and Kapong district.

Khao Lak is also very popular for trips to the Similan Islands National Park 30 miles away - made up of nine uninhabited islands where you can go snorkelling or simply admire the crystal clear blue water and white sand.

Having visited this resort it is clear that Khao Lak's regeneration has well and truly restored its standing as a prestigious tourist destination and a jewel in Thailand's crown.

It is also reassuring to hear that a great deal of hard work is being done on social responsibility and community engagement programmes - not only to benefit communities, but to strengthen culture and provide both a work/life balance and personal development opportunities for staff.

General manager, Greg Allan, who gained his degree in hospitality management at Napier University in Edinburgh, adds: "Marriott's core value is 'Spirit to Serve our Community' which focuses on contributing to and supporting the direct environment where the resort is situated.

"Currently we are supporting schools throughout Khao Lak, and other projects preserving the marine and environment are in development."

For more information see http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hktkl-jw-marriott-khao-lak-resort-and-spa/.