Peter Harbison, boss of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in Sydney, is optimistic.

ECONOMIST: Back to the beach?

"Bangkok's always been a destination despite rather than because of its airport, " says Peter Harbison, the head of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in Sydney.

FORBES: Regions

Its threat to build a private airport managed to put some pepper on the tail of policymakers, says Peter Harbison, of the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation in Sydney.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia's airport controversy