Reader's Column   By Chakarin Chayabongse, Spring 2007 update

Dear Editor,
I thank you sincerely for sending me the Hyogo Tourism Information Newsletter on a regular basis. I have found it very interesting and informative with links to relevant websites full of detailed information, except the Volume 15 which contains one inaccessible website and two of them in Japanese which I am not able to comprehend. Truly, I am certain that readers both local and foreign have enjoyed and benefited extensively from reading it. Moreover, as a former resident of Hyogo, the Newsletter serves as a medium for me to learn about the developing, promoting and at the same time conserving of Hyogo.It also reflects that Hyogo is one of the best prefectures offering comfortable living condition and being attractive tourist destination.

It is evident that Hyogo is a well-known prefecture rich of history, culture and natural resources. During our four years in Japan I and my family spent most if not all of our time in Hyogo not only for the reason that we lived there. We enjoyed living in Hyogo as there were first class facilities and warm and friendly ambience. We enjoyed travelling in Hyogo as we found that there were places to discover, history to learn and culture to share as well as kind people to befriend everywhere that we did not feel alien at all. All our friends who came to visit us felt the same. They revisited Hyogo. Some repeated eight visits in 3 years. And they still do despite difficulties in obtaining visas. They said, unlike other prefectures in Japan, Hyogo is centrally located with easy access and infrastructure to travel within and beyond to other places north and south around Japan. I would not be surprised if the number of tourists to Hyogo has been increasing. Moreover, I think tourism of Hyogo could developed further if resources be maximized and promoted to attract tourists who have different interests. For example, the tourist golfers would be thrilled to play any oldest golf courses wherever they visit. And they would never want to miss the Rokko Golf Course and relax in Arima On sen before dinner at Ozeki.

It may also be appropriate and advisable if Hyogo, a prefecture with international characteristic would bring into and blend foreign culture with its tourist attraction programme to offer a more glamorous events to potential visitors. It may still be possible to do so with Thailand while Thailand and Japan are celebrating the 120 th year of diplomatic relations in 2007 . Tokyo and Bangkok are having a series of activities to show off the significant occasion. Kobe is another most appropriate international city of Japan to take the lead. I am sure that the Royal Thai Consulate in Osaka will be more than enthusiastic to lend a hand to promote tourism in Hyogo. I sincerely wish to see Hyogo expands in all fields, especially tourism. To pen off, I and my family always look forward to visiting Hyogo again.