Tourist arrivals from Bangkok to Kyushu are increasing, partly due to the launch of a low-cost carrier (LCC) route between Fukuoka and Bangkok this past June. This was reported by NNA, which distributes economic information across Asia.
According to Mr. Toshihiro Mori, Sales Manager of JR Kyushu's Railway Business Division, sales of the "JR Kyushu Rail Pass" – an unlimited ride pass sold by JR Kyushu to short-stay overseas visitors – to Thai tourists surged 18 times year-on-year in July, immediately after LCC Jetstar began daily flights between Fukuoka and Bangkok. Many buyers, primarily families, visit Yufuin and Aso, purchasing the 3-day "Northern Kyushu Area Pass" (¥7,200). JR Kyushu plans to further strengthen its promotional activities, aiming to sell over 10,000 passes annually – approximately triple the previous year's figure.
According to a Jetstar ticket booking agent, the Fukuoka-Bangkok route has maintained an average load factor of over 80% since its launch. Passengers are predominantly Thai, with flights often fully booked during Thailand's peak travel season around October's school holidays.
A drama set in Saga Prefecture and Kitakyushu City is scheduled to air in Thailand next January. Chie Ariyoshi, Chief of the Overseas Promotion Division at the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization, expressed hope: "We're hearing Thai spoken more often in Fukuoka too. Increased media exposure raising awareness could bring even more tourists." Additionally, examples are emerging where tourist spots gain popularity overseas through social media, such as Kitakyushu's Kawachi Fuji Garden becoming popular among international travelers after being featured on overseas blogs.
Yuki Shimizu, Deputy Director of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Bangkok Office, which exhibited in the Japan Zone at the 15th Thailand International Travel Fair (TIFT), Southeast Asia's largest tourism trade show in August, stated, "With the further expansion of LCC routes, we expect an increase in first-time visitors to Japan, broadening the range of age groups and income levels. We will focus on the autumn travel season to promote the appeal of Japan's autumn and winter."
