"Since the Japanese government endorsed waiving visa fees years ago, Thailand has become an emerging market and will continue to grow," Yoshihiro Tatara, deputy general manager, said yesterday.The first Prince in Nagoya will open in the autumn within the new Global Gate in the Sasashima Live 24 district.Nagoya City is aiming to expand international conference and meeting room, office, hotel, retail and other facilities.The new Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya will foster tourism and travel to the industrial city.The Hakodate-Onuma Prince Golf Course is under renovation and a new clubhouse is set to be completed in the first half of next year.In July this year, the group debuted its top brand, the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, with 250 rooms and reopened the renovated Akasaka Prince Classic House, formerly the Grand Akasaka Prince Hotel, which opened in 1955.Victor Osumi, corporate officer, said Japan welcomed a surge of 47 per cent in visitors to 19 million last year, of whom 796,700 were Thais. "In 2015, our hotels served 1.1 million guests from local and international markets, 30 per cent up from 2014. "Of the total guests, the Thai market ranked fifth or 5.8 per cent," he said.The group is confident the number of Thai customers will continue increasing this year.Last year, Prince Hotels and Resorts formed an alliance with Dusit International to promote properties and collaborate on marketing.Tokyo is set to host the Summer Olympics in 2020, when Japan expects 40 million visitors, a number it hopes will increase to 60 million in 2030.

Source: The Nation Bangkok October 06, 2016 18:00 UTC