This wins the most ridiculous plan for tourism that I have seen here in Thailand and even rivals the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

According to an article in The Nation, there is a group in Thailand (Saha Group) that is planning on creating “Japan Town” in Thailand and all I can guess is that they got advice from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Japan Town Flag Tourism

Just what every Japanese tourist comes to Thailand to see – a town that looks like where they live.  Did the Tourism Authority of Thailand advise the Saha Group on this?

“It’s the first time in 60 years we’re expanding into the tourism and service businesses. We want our Japan Town project to become a new landmark in Sri Racha province,” chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana said yesterday.

I wonder if it will also have an earthquake, tsunami, and a nuclear plant melting down.  Better check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to see if this is in their FY 2012 marketing plan and also check with the Thai Culture Minister to ensure that Thailand‘s image isn’t damaged.

Japan Town will offer many tourist attractions, similar to Palio Khao Yai, a walking-street shopping centre in an Italian-style village mall, which allows tourists to visit and take some photos.

What a ridiculous idea. And, toss in an Italian-style mall, whatever that is, for the tourists to visit and take photos.  What will they take photos of?  The Thailand Leaning Tower of Pizza?  So stupid. They have to be in cahoots with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The 600-rai retail centre, the group’s largest ever property project, was aimed at cementing its long-term relationship with its Japanese partners, he said.

“We are now negotiating with 10 potential partners interested in the project, which is expected to start next year,” he said.

So, with Japanese partners there will be Japanese restaurants, Japanese hotels, Japanese shops, with all the money going back to Japan.  Saw this in Hawaii years ago. But, I guess that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has these guys convinced that this will be great for foreign tourists and a money maker for Thailand. Not.

But, it gets even more ridiculous.  Tourism Authority of Thailand must be the primary adviser on this plan.

Many landmarks and cultural centres in Japan will be reproduced in the Sri Racha shopping magnet, which will also contain well-known restaurants and fashion outlets.

Why would anyone from Japan, or any other country, come to Thailand to see reproduced Japan?  Fashion Outlets?  To sell pirated clothes?  Will the restaurants be Thai or Japanese?  This has to be a Tourism Authority of Thailand brainstorm.

“We chose Sri Racha as our investment location for the new Japan Town complex as it is a city with potential and a deep-sea port, similar to other big cities such as Kobe, Yokohama, Singapore and Hong Kong. Sri Racha itself accommodates more than 4,000 Japanese expatriates,” he said.

I don’t know where they got the number of Japanese expats from, but I have never seen one in all my years of coming to Thailand.  Has anyone else out there ever seen a Japanese expat?  Maybe the Tourism Authority of Thailand can provide the data!

And, they won’t just stop at making Japan Town. The Tourism Authority of Thailand must have prompted this one too.

Japan Town could be followed by a Korean Town project, he said, adding that new investment would be focused locally rather than overseas because of the appreciation of the baht.

The appreciation of the Thai baht has resulted in fewer tourists from any foreign country coming here (but not if you believe the fabricated numbers put out by the Tourism Authority of Thailand).  And, why stop at Korea Town.  Why not Estonia Town?  They are an “emerging market” according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“I’m quite confident that the Thai economy will prosper after the July 3 election,” he said. “The economic recovery will still rely on the new government’s policies, which should have a long-term vision from five to 20 years.”

No Thai Government Office, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has a plan beyond next week.  But, I am glad that he thinks that the Thai economy will prosper after the July 3 election.  I  think that there will be riots in the streets starting on July 4.  We will see who is correct.

Saha Group still wants to see the Thai currency stay between Bt36 and Bt38 against the US dollar, as that would help exporters remain competitive in international markets. With a foreign-exchange rate in that range, exporters can afford to raise wages, which will be in line with the platforms of major political parties.

Didn’t this guy just say he wanted to do things in Thailand because the Thai baht is strong (hovers around Bt30 to one US dollar).  All of us Expats want the Thai Baht to go up to where it was a couple of years ago – around 40 t0 1.  But, since the Thai Government controls the Baht, and artificially inflates it, it will not come close to 36 baht to the dollar.  Maybe he is getting economic advice from the Tourism Authority of Thailand too.

First I have heard of this.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand didn’t mention it on their Facebook page.

Boonsithi was presiding over the opening of the 15th Saha Group Fair running until Sunday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Featuring a vast selection of more than 1,000 products in 900 booths, the annual sale is expected to welcome more than a million shoppers.

I wonder why the Tourism Authority of Thailand didn’t promote this along with their other BIG sale for the elite Bangkokians?

I guess that the Saha Group doesn’t understand marketing either (must be from hanging around with the Tourism Authority of Thailand).  They must have listened to the Tourism Authority of Thailand and came up with this cockamamie plan to build Japan Town. Why not promote Thai Culture to foreigners?  Why not promote Thai Food to foreigners?  Why not promote Thai Sports to foreigners?  Nah, lets promote Japan Town in Thailand.

I will have to add Japan Town and Korea Town to my list of inane items that the Tourism Authority of Thailand promotes – water gun fights during Songkran and transvestite beauty contests.

Tags: culture food japan town korea town saha group TAT tourism authority of thailand