Bangkok, 09 February, 2018 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organisation recently signed a Letter of Intent, demonstrating the commitment to promote tourism between Thailand and Japan’s Kyushu Region. 
Signed on 8 February, between Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn (above picture, left), TAT Governor, and Mr. Susumu Ishihara (right), President of the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organisation, at Hotel Nikko Fukuoka, Japan, the signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak (standing), Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Yuthasak said, “Thailand and Japan have enjoyed a strong and long-standing relationship for over 130 years, whilst travellers from Japan play a pivotal role in the development of Thailand’s tourism, and now represent one of the top 10 visitor arrivals to the Kingdom. This agreement between TAT and Kyushu Tourism will certainly help to enhance our relationship in the field of tourism cooperation even further.”
Under the agreement, both parties are committed to promote tourism between Thailand and Kyushu Region, which covers seven cities – Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, for a period of two years.
TAT will be promoting Thailand to the people of Kyushu Region with the latest communication concept, ‘Open to the New Shades’, which showcases Thai local experiences under five categories: Gastronomy, Arts and Crafts, Culture, Beach and Nature, and Way of Life.
At the signing ceremony, TAT also introduced Nan and Ranong, two of Thailand’s emerging tourist destinations, to the tour operators in Kyushu.
Last year, Thailand recorded 1.54 million travellers from Japan, generating 67.51 billion Baht, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.28 per cent and 9.67 per cent, respectively. Japanese tourists spent on average 5,353 Baht per day, with an average length of stay of eight days. Popular Thai destinations among the Japanese tourists include Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya.
