Senior Japanese Long-stayers’Perception of Chiang Mai

Abstract

This research studied the perception of senior Japanese “long-stayers” of Chiang Mai. The purpose of the study was to offer suggestions for the strategic planning of Chiang Mai Province. The population of this research was 38 Japanese individuals aged 60 years old and above that had been living in Chiang Mai for over one year. Four focus group sessions were arranged in order to gather the necessary data. A structured question list based on Rogers M. Everett’s diffusion of innovations theory was applied as the main tool for the data collection. The study showed that the senior Japanese long-stayers had a good image of Chiang Mai in terms of safety, healthcare services, and language and communications at a high level; government services at a moderate level; and roles and values of the society at a low level. The researchers suggest that Chiang Mai Province encourage the senior Japanese living in Chiang Mai to be more active in local activities so that they can spread information about life in Chiang Mai among their peers.