She was speaking after meeting with Long Stay Foundation chairman Ryuji Funayama, who revealed that more than 1.2 million Japanese were long-stay tourists worldwide, a figure expected to grow in the near future. Roughly 4,000 out of the 60,000 long-stay Japanese tourist in Thailand resided in Chiang Mai.
Kobkarn said that she planned to meet with the Board of Investment to promote long-stay tourism.
She said the strategy was aimed at boosting the country’s competitiveness against Malaysia, which had clear tourism industry policies.
Kobkarn also referred to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recent trip to Tokyo, saying it appeared to have had a positive impact on Thai tourism. She said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed confidence in Thai politics and tourism, which would encourage Japanese to visit Thailand in 2015.