The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that Japan has prepared to open a new flying route, Shizuoka-Bangkok, in 2009 to expand the tourism market of both countries.

TAT Deputy Governor Mrs. Chuthaporn Roengronasa, who is in charge of market expansion, said the plan came during a meeting between TAT officials and a team of executives from Shizuoka Province, Japan.

At the meeting, the Japanese visitors informed about their new airport, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka International Airport, which will be opened in March 2009. More importantly, Shizuoka province has a plan to operate a Charter Flight between Shizuoka and Bangkok, so as to extend the cooperation in tourism between the two countries.

Mrs. Chuthaporn revealed that, apart from Shizuoka, TAT also has plans to negotiate with other cities in Asia and the Pacific region, such as, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Guam-Saipan Islands, and Honolulu, to open new flights to those cities.

Besides, the TAT deputy governor said in conjunction with the 120th anniversary of the Thai-Japanese diplomatic relations in September this year, the governments of the two countries have decided to hold celebrations throughout 2007. The cooperation will be made between both private and government sectors of both nations, to strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between both peoples. Activities will include technical seminars, exhibitions on technology, culture and investment, sports competition, musical performances, tourism cooperation, trade fairs, international movies shows, and souvenir production