As the 3rd largest economy in the world behind China and the USA, Japan with 120 million population would likely spend more per person than the 1.2 billion Chinese, but all three giants are welcomed as much as the 140 million Russians. Whether we spend baht converted from Aud, GPB, EUR, USD, Yen, Yuan or Rubles; Thailand will gladly accept and smile for both the short-game or the long-game.

A 50 % fall of the Yen versus the THB may make their job a lot harder

It might, Paddy, but the Yen has only fallen 15% against the Baht in the last year. There has been no 50% fall, unless you are talking about the end of WW2 or similar.

Sorry matey, didn't actually check the numbers just talking roughly, but you are totally off and i am near enough.... it was 2.5 in 2012 now 3.64 so near enough what i said, got to look at a proper time frame to grasp impact of QE....you may as well say it hasn't fallen at all since yesterday...in fact the yen is stronger today....

Ok and what about the rest of us from the west? We are not 'quality' enough?

Not that the Japanese aren't of course, awesome people!

I understand in one way but I am a Brit and I have never seen a tattooed beer swilling load mouthed council estate loat from Japan ever. Bring it on. More Japanese please, wonderful people. And a 15 day stamp for the Brits that turn up at BKK airport spending there hard earned welfare.

Believe me they do exist, they are not as common and are usually kept to the confines of chimpira or Yakuza groups. The Japanese version makes their British counterpart look positively tame by comparison.

I'm British so I can relate to being constantly embarrassed by chavs on tour.

Do the Japanese version come to Thailand though? Chavs are all over Europe and now I see them in SE Asia. Nowhere is safe it seems!

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

Reasons why Japanese?

1. More retired old people with high savings

2. Culturally polite and respectful

3. A large majority coming as couples, thus healthier activities.

Agreed. But the question is not 'why Japanese' but 'why Japanese exclusively'? Why is the program being designed only for Japanese? Why not all long-stay?

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

Just a whiff ? It is a stench. There is no equality in Thailand. Why do you think there are so many political problems. This is just a small, annoying example.

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

------------------------------

I wouldn't pay that much attention to prees releases from the Tourist Authority of Thaiand.

They are renounded for their monthly "announcements' full of "Male Cow Fecal Matierial".

It does display a certain, unsavory, mindset by TAT, though. I know I'm considered 'second class' in Thailand but this announcement and the one about Chinese visitors tells me they really consider me 'third class' or lower. I grew up in the US Deep South in the 1950's so I know racism when I see it; it was all around me.

A 50 % fall of the Yen versus the THB may make their job a lot harder

It might, Paddy, but the Yen has only fallen 15% against the Baht in the last year. There has been no 50% fall, unless you are talking about the end of WW2 or similar.

Sorry matey, didn't actually check the numbers just talking roughly, but you are totally off and i am near enough.... it was 2.5 in 2012 now 3.64 so near enough what i said, got to look at a proper time frame to grasp impact of QE....you may as well say it hasn't fallen at all since yesterday...in fact the yen is stronger today....

If you cherry-pick numbers and choose the month in 2012 when the Yen was highest, then the Yen has fallen 31% against the Thai Baht, not 50%.

Or how about we go back to 21st July 2007, when the Baht was worth 4.049 Yen. The Yen has appreciated 11% since then.

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

Reasons why Japanese?

1. More retired old people with high savings

2. Culturally polite and respectful

3. A large majority coming as couples, thus healthier activities.

Would have to agree. If I was Thailand and had to pick which group I'd prefer, the Japanese would be high on the list. In addition to your points, the Japanese are more law-abiding than most other nationalities. I mean, compare the Japanese to the Chinese or Russians in terms of tourist behavior. No comparison.

It's amazing how sensitive and PC some TV posters are. They should get off their high horse already. Thailand is not considering restrictions placed on other nationalities, but is rightfully recognizing the intelligent choice. I'm certainly not Japanese, but I can see how they would be ideal guests in any country.

A 50 % fall of the Yen versus the THB may make their job a lot harder

It might, Paddy, but the Yen has only fallen 15% against the Baht in the last year. There has been no 50% fall, unless you are talking about the end of WW2 or similar.

Sorry matey, didn't actually check the numbers just talking roughly, but you are totally off and i am near enough.... it was 2.5 in 2012 now 3.64 so near enough what i said, got to look at a proper time frame to grasp impact of QE....you may as well say it hasn't fallen at all since yesterday...in fact the yen is stronger today....

If you cherry-pick numbers and choose the month in 2012 when the Yen was highest, then the Yen has fallen 31% against the Thai Baht, not 50%.

Or how about we go back to 21st July 2007, when the Baht was worth 4.049 Yen. The Yen has appreciated 11% since then.

Im not cherrypicking, I'm choosing to measure since the start of QE. If they had aimed at the Japanese when the yen was strong and the bhat was weak then they'd have found it easier. Why even argue that a fall from 2.5 to 3.64 is not making Thailand far more expensive to the Japanese? And by the way. A move from 2.5 to 3.64 is a 45% jump so I'm right and you're wrong.

A 50 % fall of the Yen versus the THB may make their job a lot harder

It might, Paddy, but the Yen has only fallen 15% against the Baht in the last year. There has been no 50% fall, unless you are talking about the end of WW2 or similar.

Sorry matey, didn't actually check the numbers just talking roughly, but you are totally off and i am near enough.... it was 2.5 in 2012 now 3.64 so near enough what i said, got to look at a proper time frame to grasp impact of QE....you may as well say it hasn't fallen at all since yesterday...in fact the yen is stronger today....

If you cherry-pick numbers and choose the month in 2012 when the Yen was highest, then the Yen has fallen 31% against the Thai Baht, not 50%.

Or how about we go back to 21st July 2007, when the Baht was worth 4.049 Yen. The Yen has appreciated 11% since then.

Im not cherrypicking, I'm choosing to measure since the start of QE. If they had aimed at the Japanese when the yen was strong and the bhat was weak then they'd have found it easier. Why even argue that a fall from 2.5 to 3.64 is not making Thailand far more expensive to the Japanese? And by the way. A move from 2.5 to 3.64 is a 45% jump so I'm right and you're wrong.

Is this thread about exchange rates?

In order to minimize culture shock, Thailand will need to clean up the garbage everywhere, have honest taxi drivers wearing white gloves, make Thailand safe and efficient, have police do police work.... such a huge gap between Japan and Thailand in these and other respects. I'm from USA, lived in Japan and their attention to clean and orderly bordered on OCD by American standards.... here? well.... good luck.

60,000 long stay Japanese in Thailand, hmmm.

Can anyone define long stay, as refere?nced above, please

=> afraid of the radiation from the nuclear tsunami fiasco

A move from 2.5 to 3.64 is a 45% jump so I'm right and you're wrong.

You don't seem to grasp basic maths.

If JPY/THB went from 2.5 to 5, it would be a 100% jump in the value of the Baht, which is the same as a 50% drop in the value of the Yen.

^^^

Is this thread about exchange rates?[ /quote]

It is now.

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

you are obviously not a koo wallety tourist

A move from 2.5 to 3.64 is a 45% jump so I'm right and you're wrong.

You don't seem to grasp basic maths.

If JPY/THB went from 2.5 to 5, it would be a 100% jump in the value of the Baht, which is the same as a 50% drop in the value of the Yen.

And my dad could "bash" your dad, hmmm:-(

Why should any long-stay drive by the government be restricted to residents of a particular country. When I convert my Dollars to Baht, don't they boost the Thai economy as much as the Yen that are converted to Baht? I'm getting a whiff of racism.

Reasons why Japanese?

1. More retired old people with high savings

2. Culturally polite and respectful

3. A large majority coming as couples, thus healthier activities.

nah you havent been paying attention have you. orgies have been banned

What is the difference between a good ' Long stay Tourist' and a bad ' person abusing tourist visa/visa exempt' to stay in Thailand long term?

first one is yee-bpoon, second one is farang

Great news, bargirls will be ecstatic.

No one else pays triple the price for 1/3 of the time

You left out a zero or maybe two

A move from 2.5 to 3.64 is a 45% jump so I'm right and you're wrong.

You don't seem to grasp basic maths.

If JPY/THB went from 2.5 to 5, it would be a 100% jump in the value of the Baht, which is the same as a 50% drop in the value of the Yen.

Ok, i will make this my last communication with you, as you seem to lack the brain cells either for economics or basic maths. Here goes dummy...(3.64-2.5)/2.5 = 45.6% and if you still don't understand then go away anyway....put on your dunce hat...jump in the sea....stick your head down a toilet....whatever....

Ok, i will make this my last communication with you, as you seem to lack the brain cells either for economics or basic maths. Here goes dummy...(3.64-2.5)/2.5 = 45.6% and if you still don't understand then go away anyway....put on your dunce hat...jump in the sea....stick your head down a toilet....whatever....

Silly man

Soon we need to read poop smearing Chinese tourists for long staying Japanese tourists.

Ok and what about the rest of us from the west? We are not 'quality' enough?

Not that the Japanese aren't of course, awesome people!

I understand in one way but I am a Brit and I have never seen a tattooed beer swilling load mouthed council estate loat from Japan ever. Bring it on. More Japanese please, wonderful people. And a 15 day stamp for the Brits that turn up at BKK airport spending there hard earned welfare.

Am from a council estate myself, but am a bit confused with 'load' and 'loat', parts or your message.

Ok and what about the rest of us from the west? We are not 'quality' enough?

Not that the Japanese aren't of course, awesome people!

I understand in one way but I am a Brit and I have never seen a tattooed beer swilling load mouthed council estate loat from Japan ever. Bring it on. More Japanese please, wonderful people. And a 15 day stamp for the Brits that turn up at BKK airport spending there hard earned welfare.

Am from a council estate myself, but am a bit confused with 'load' and 'loat', parts or your message.

Haha ooopps loud and lout. I type too fast. It wasnt a dig at all council estate people. I have many friends from said estates and many are decent hard working people. I should have said sink estate. Or is it chavs they call them. Either way they make me ashamed to be British. Am sure you have met a few in your time.

Ok and what about the rest of us from the west? We are not 'quality' enough?

Not that the Japanese aren't of course, awesome people!

I understand in one way but I am a Brit and I have never seen a tattooed beer swilling load mouthed council estate loat from Japan ever. Bring it on. More Japanese please, wonderful people. And a 15 day stamp for the Brits that turn up at BKK airport spending there hard earned welfare.

Am from a council estate myself, but am a bit confused with 'load' and 'loat', parts or your message.

Haha ooopps loud and lout. I type too fast. It wasnt a dig at all council estate people. I have many friends from said estates and many are decent hard working people. I should have said sink estate. Or is it chavs they call them. Either way they make me ashamed to be British. Am sure you have met a few in your time.

Long-stay tourism drive aimed at Japanese

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Ministry has initiated a plan to promote long-stay tourism by focusing on Japanese tourists one of Thailand's biggest inbound markets, said Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul yesterday.

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.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Long-stay-tourism-drive-aimed-at-Japanese-30253950.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-13

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