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Published on November 3, 2007

Then, the parade began and they commenced dancing, leading the rest of the annual parade along the three-kilometre route down this city's oldest and most famous thoroughfare.

But this was the last time the parade will be staged in its free-form format. For 25 years the occasion has been a congregation of dance and marching groups, bands, floats from countries of the world and parties of school children.

From now, each parade will have a central theme.

The parade is this city's most publicised annual promotion, and attracts visitors from all over.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Osaka office entered a float, decorated with orchid flowers and accompanied by performers of ancient Sukhothai dance.

The float highlighted the celebration of 120 years of Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations and His Majesty the King's birthday.

"There are not many chances to promote Thailand in Japan," office director Charun Ohnmee says.

Unlike countries such as the United States, where trade shows are a regular event, it's harder to promote Thailand here.

But last month Osaka went festival-crazy.

Thailand flew in food and entertainers for the city events.

There is immense interest in Thailand in Japan, and during the festivals local radio announcers such as Khanittha Matsuo discussed its politics, society, culture and food and tourism opportunities.

The tourism office explains a weakening Japanese yen over the past decade discouraged a lot of people here from making trips.

More Thai people have been making the journey to Japan instead, it adds. Television in Thailand increasingly carries information and programmes from Japan.

Nevertheless, in spite of insurgency in the South, Sars and bird flu and the tsunami, Japanese tourist numbers to the Kingdom are again on the rise. They increased 9.5 per cent last year, reaching almost 1.3 million.

Charun says the recent Phuket air accident is not deterring the Japanese revival.

Thailand aims to attract more mature Japanese visitors. They like to visit traditional tourist attractions. There is a market for heath tourism, too. Quality medical care and spas are popular lures, Charun explains. This market can significantly increase visitor numbers from Japan.

Charun will ask the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to start promoting the capital as the gateway to Thailand here.

Sirinya Wattanasukchai

The Nation

OSAKA, Japan