Chiang Mai business strategy seminar on 'Long Stay Tourism in Chiang Mai'

[webfact]

Chiang Mai business strategy seminar on 'Long Stay Tourism in Chiang Mai'

CHIANG MAI, 29 August 2014 (NNT) – The Governor of Chiang Mai, has presided over the opening ceremony of the business strategy seminar in Chiang Mai since Long Stay Business in the province and its ASEAN neighbors should work in collaboration.

This seminar aims to stimulate worldwide business cooperation by Thai entrepreneurs, strengthen bargaining power among international long stay businesses in both the public and private arenas, exchange information among Thai traders and foreign clients, upgrade Thai long stay business standards, build customer confidence in Thai long stay businesses, increase the business’s ability to compete with other countries in the region, increase job opportunities for people in local areas, respond to the government’s policy supporting Chiang Mai as a destination for healthy tourism and long stay business, and be the discovery hub of an aging society study in Thailand.

Due to the fact that there is a high number of retired Japanese people who want to live aboard, Chiang Mai Province has become an ideal choice for those who want to reside long stay. The admired Chiang Mai atmosphere has met the customers’ expectations on many levels.

-- NNT 2014-08-29

[Chang_paarp]

Due to the fact that there is a high number of retired Japanese people who want to live aboard, Chiang Mai Province has become an ideal choice for those who want to reside long stay. The admired Chiang Mai atmosphere has met the customers’ expectations on many levels.

This is the root of many misunderstandings, retirees are seen as tourists not residents and are treated as such. Whereas the retiree think they live in the place they have a home and reside.

[Lupatria]

How about a seminar titled: and now we finally get rid of all the lucrative little obstacles we put in their way?

[northernboy]

Yes the TAT does not seem to understand what the traveling public wants. They do know how to make their numbers look good. It would be nice if they stopped doing exactly the same for every market segment as they did teh whole market 20 years ago, That is travel agents and journalist are sales people they can do no wrong.

[chinostar]

Wait until the burning season arrives. Poor retired Japanese, British, Americans, Dutch........

[Caspersfriend]

"Due to the fact that there is a high number of retired Japanese people who want to live aboard, Chiang Mai Province has become an ideal choice for those who want to reside long stay. The admired Chiang Mai atmosphere has met the customers’ expectations on many levels."

However, you can see so many totally- confused Japanese at CM Immigration every day of the week. If you have some ability to converse with them [which 99% of CM Immigration staff do not] they will say "We were told how easy this would be before we came". Housing costs, living costs, actually having some space! Not difficult to see why affluent Japanese would chose to consider a move to Thailand. One's expectations in life are not always fulfilled after the delusion, so skillfully presented, fades.

"He was high on intellectualism
I've never been there but the brochure looks nice"

[NancyL]

I have the impression that the Thai officials think that "long stay retired tourists" are going to return to their home countries at some point. They don't realize that people usually plan a major move for retirement as their final move. They may come here as active retirees -- where activities like golf, spas, and restaurants are of interest -- but as they age their needs will change. I don't think the Thai officials have thought thru the long-term implications of encouraging elderly people to sell off everything in their home country, severe ties and move here for retirement. Yes, I know that's not what they're explicitly encouraging people to do, but that's what happens in many cases.

Edited August 31, 2014 by NancyL

[FolkGuitar]

This ties in very well with the thread on blocked footpaths. The retired Japanese, as NancyL says, do come here as active retirees, but it doesn't take that long before they can't get around very well. How many condo buildings are wheel-chair friendly, to say nothing of the pavements and shopping centers. In Japan, because of its aging society, there are buses, trains, taxis, etc., that are handicapped-accessible. Not quite the same here. It would be far better to improve daily life situations and conditions rather than make the golf courses more obvious.

They aren't tourists, although they do visit tourist venues. They want to be treated like residents. For that matter, I think ALL of us retired expats would find that refreshing, While it's nice that the TAT are taking an active interest, it would be much better if the Thai government in general would take an active interest, and make it easier for the retirees to live out our lives. I will say that the Japanese Consulate here does an excellent job of informing its people of just what is required for visa renewal, and the Japanese Long-Stay Association also puts out excellent information in Japanese for its club members.