"What we want to offer to our members are cosy resorts and high-quality hotels, where individuals, married couples or families can truly relax and enjoy themselves with a certain level of privacy rather than being part of a tight-scheduled tour group," Seiji Miura, chairman of the Osaka-based firm, said yesterday.

"Therefore, unlike other accommodation providers, we are not seeking properties that have sightseeing attractions on their doorstep." President Yoshihiro Kanae added: "Our concept is like a social club.

"As our main target groups are 50-to-70-year-olds who have plenty of time and money on their hands, we plan to offer value-added services such as golf, gourmet dining, medical services and cultural seminars."

Tourism Authority of Thailand statistics show that 1,311,987 Japanese visited last year, an increase of 10 per cent from 2005.

White Pegasus aims to woo the growing "grey population" in Japan, estimated to reach 7 million to 8 million in three years, Miura said.

The target mainly consists of retirees born during the baby-boom period of 1947-1955, as well as the increasing number of independent tourists with high incomes such as investors, business owners and professionals.

The company charges a membership fee of Bt1 million yen (Bt330,000), plus annual dues of ¥10,000.

The resort club concept is popular in Japan, but has focused on domestic hotels.

White Pegasus has allied with hotels in Thailand, Bali (Indonesia) and the Philippines.

First-class hotels such as the Sukhothai and the Nai Lert Park in Bangkok and the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai are among its local partners, while Bali has the Bvlgari and the Legend.

Suchat Sritama

he Nation