The latest activities by JTTRI-AIRO, such as conducting research, holding seminars and collaborating parties in the field of transport and tourism.

On 17th - 18th June 2025 Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI), Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute ASEAN-India Regional Office (JTTRI-AIRO) held The  5th working group  Meeting  in a topic of Towards attracting tourists across the country by Leveraging Tourism Resources - Taking Example of Wellness Tourism - 

On 17th JTTRI-AIRO has conducted a site visit at Sankamphange Hot Spring and Ontai Farm to learn about the example of implemented Wellness Tourism site in Thailand. On the following day JTTRI and MOTS took turn discussed the feasibility of Thailand wellness tourism development. Thai side present the short-mid-long of the San Kampheang development project, which will lead to attract more tourist both domestic and international in the future. Japan side also present the case study of their own research area which include Japan India, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Finally, Mr. TOMITA Akihiro Executive Director, JTTRI ASEAN-India Regional Office propose the outline of the 6th Tourism Working group in which this time are schedule to held in Japan. These discussions aimed to establish a framework for concrete tourism cooperation toward realizing sustainable tourism in the future.

Meeting section led by

• Mrs. Bongkotrath MOLEE Director of Policy and International Affairs Division
• Mr. Chalermsak MAKMOONPHUL Manager of San Kamphaeng Hot Spring

Sankhampaeng Hot Springs, originally an agricultural property, was visited by King Rama IX, and His Majesty has taken this into the royal project in the tourism sector, began tourism development in the 1970s by utilizing the local resource of hot springs, including hot bath facilities, footbaths, massages, and cottages. An overview of the facilities, the visiting clientele, income and expenditures related to the operation, and the planned construction of new facilities is presented.

Meeting section led by

• Mr. Chananan KANTIFONG, Mayor of On Tai Subdistrict Municipality
• Mr. Pinyo WISAI, Manager of Ontai Farm

Ontai Farm is an organic farming & agritourism company whose founder started the business model as a farmer here for 12 years, with a mission to produce safe food and cuisine.

Opening Remarks

• Mr. Seksun NGAWSUWAN, Assistant Permanent Secretary, Office of Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Sports
  "The 4th WG was sharing to the ASEAN region reflects our true intentions. Regarding attracting distinations with tourism resources, Thailand hopes to develop hot spring tourism and health tourism and link it to tourism promotion, which will lead to income distribution to the region. We would like to learn from Japan and link this to tourism for the new generation in Thailand."
   
• Mr. OKUDA Tetsuya, President, International Affairs President, JTTRI – AIRO
  "We visited Sankhampaeng Hot Springs and Ong Thai Farm, which are representative examples of wellness tourism promoted by Thailand, and had a valuable site-visit on examples of utilization of tourism resources such as local culture and organic farming under the warm hospitality of local people.As in previous WGs, we would like to have a lively discussion on the ground, based on specific examples of destinations."

Thai side

• Mr. Seksun NGAWSUWAN Assistant Permanent Secretary (Co - Chair)
• Mrs. Bongkotrath MOLEE Director of Policy and International Affairs Division (Secretary of WG)
• Mr. Athuek PRASENMOON Director of Tourist Attraction Development Division, DOT (Speaker)
• Ms. Rubkwan JAROONSAK Director Tourism Investment Planning Division, TAT (Speaker)
• Ms. Wassana PONGSAPAN Director of Community Based Tourism Office, DASTA
• Mr. Supawong KEASANG Manager, Northern Regional Office, TCEB
• Asst. Prof. Supawadee PHOTIYARACH Thailand Science Research and Innovation, TSRI

Japan Side

• Mr. OKUDA Tetsuya President, International Affairs President, JTTRI – AIRO (Co - Chair)
• Mr. TOMITA Akihiro Executive Director, JTTRI – AIRO (Secretary of WG) (Speaker)
• Mr. ITO Kazuhiro President/Travel Consultant of Yamashiro Company, Former executive Director, Office of International Tourism, Japan Association of Travel Agents (Speaker)
• Mr. NAKASUGI Hajime Director, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Bangkok Office
• Mr. KAWADA Atsuya Director, Strategy Planning Division Japan Tourism Agency (JTA)
• Mr. TAKENAKA Masato Executive Director, Global Strategy Headquarters, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

• Mr. Athuek PRASENMOON, Director of Tourist Attraction Development Division, Department of Tourism.
  Topic: Guidelines for the development of hot spring tourist attractions
• Ms. Rubkwan JAROONSAK Director Tourism Investment Planning Division Tourism Authority of Thailand.
  Topic: Well being: Health & Wellness
• Mr. TOMITA Akihiro Executive Director, JTTRI – AIRO 
  Topic: Efforts to attract and spread tourists across the country
• Mr. ITO Kazuhiro President/Travel Consultant of Yamashiro Company, Former executive Director, Office of International Tourism, Japan Association of Travel Agents.
  Topic: Attracting tourist in destinations for development of sustainable tourism - Examples of wellness tourism in Japan and Sri Lanka

• Mr. OKUDA Tetsuya, President for International Affairs, JTTRI and President of JTTRI-AIRO
• Mr. Seksun NGAWSUWAN, Assistant Permanent Secretary, Office of Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism and Sports