พฤติกรรมการเลือกที่อยู่อาศัยของผู้สูงอายุชาวญี่ปุ่นที่มาท่องเที่ยวพำนักระยะยาว : กรณีศึกษาจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ / ศิตางศุ์ เหลียวรุ่งเรือง = Housing selection factors for the longstay elderly Japanese : a case study of Chiang Mai province / Sitang Lieorungrueng
There is a growing trend in many countries that the number of elderly persons is increasing, resulting in more elderly societies. Japan has the largest proportion of elderly people in the world - higher than 20%. When elderly Japanese people retire from work, they receive a monthly pension from the government. They also tend to spend more time traveling and their stable income provides them more spending power for long-term stays in other countries. Thailand is one of the countries in which many elderly Japanese people are interested in staying for an extended period. The present study aimed at investigating the 1) socio-economic status, 2) housing selection factors, and 3) housing problems of long-term Japanese visitors. Primary and secondary data were collected using questionnaires and interviews of elderly Japanese members of the Chiang Mai Long Stay Life Club (CLL) who were long-term residents in Chiang Mai. According to the study findings, as regards socioeconomic conditions, most of the study subjects were highly educated and financially stable males. In addition, they were in good health and able to take care of themselves. They liked to play golf and decided stay long-term in Chiang Mai because of the low cost of living, generosity and friendliness of the local people, safety, good geographical location and weather, similar culture, and easy access to medical facilities. Thus, most planned to stay in Chiang Mai for the rest of their lives, and purchased condominiums in the city. With regard to factors affecting housing selection, they were as follows: 1) physical considerations, 2) social considerations, 3) financial considerations, 4) housing considerations, and 5) project data considerations, respectively. They researched information on their own before making their decision, which generally took longer than four months. The housing problems found in the study included safety problems, local people’s violation of traffic laws, loud disturbing noises from the neighbors, stray dogs, communication with local people, drunk driving, poor Internet connection and cable television, concern about the structure of the building, and lack of a kitchen in which to cook. When it came to suggestions regarding housing, the subjects indicated that they wanted a bath tub, Japanese-styled entrance way, Japanese-speaking cable channel, kitchen and different of allocation of utility space inside the house, public transportation system, Japanese interpreter at the hospital, and a more convenient immigration protocol at the airport. Also, they did not want a ceramic-tiled bathroom floor. The present study was mainly based on the theoretical concepts regarding housing needs and marketing for selecting housing which were found to result from specific characteristics and behaviors of elderly Japanese. The recommendations of the study relate to public offices, housing developers, and other parties who should take the needs of elderly Japanese and the desire to meet market demand into consideration. Appropriate management is needed so as to solve existing problems and reflect the demand of elderly Japanese people staying long-term in Thailand. This will aid in analysis of data of the suppliers or those who wish to sell their condominiums, both in the public and private sectors, based on the basic ideas of happiness and mutual benefit of co-habitants, including service provision and satisfaction with longstay services in Thailand.
