BALI, Indonesia — Bali is no longer the highest-ranked island in Asia-Pacific, according to the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2026, where readers voted Thailand’s Koh Samui as the region’s best island.
The annual awards placed Vietnam’s Phu Quoc second, while Bali slipped to third after years of dominating international travel rankings.
The change reflects growing competition among Asia’s island destinations as travelers increasingly value sustainability, authentic local experiences, and destinations that balance tourism growth with quality of life.
Travel + Leisure praised Koh Samui for expanding its luxury tourism industry while preserving much of its traditional character, including coconut plantations, fishing villages, waterfalls, and easy access to the Ang Thong National Marine Park.
Bali, meanwhile, remains one of the world’s most recognizable island destinations. However, the island has faced increasing challenges over the past year, including traffic congestion, overtourism in some areas, and stricter enforcement against visa violations and inappropriate behavior by foreign visitors.
Despite dropping to third place, Bali continues to rank among Asia-Pacific’s most desirable destinations, while another Indonesian island, Sumba, also secured a place in this year’s Top 10.
Best Islands in Asia-Pacific 2026
- Koh Samui, Thailand
- Phu Quoc, Vietnam
- Bali, Indonesia
- Palawan, Philippines
- Penang, Malaysia
- Phuket, Thailand
- Langkawi, Malaysia
- Boracay, Philippines
- Sumba, Indonesia
- Koh Chang, Thailand
The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific are based on reader votes, evaluating destinations for overall travel experience, hospitality, service quality, and visitor satisfaction.
While Bali may have slipped from the top spot this year, its continued presence among Asia-Pacific’s three best islands suggests the Island of the Gods remains one of the region’s most influential tourism destinations. The latest rankings may serve less as a setback and more as a reminder that in today’s travel industry, maintaining quality is just as important as attracting visitors.