INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS TO ASIA PACIFIC SURGED 10 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2010
Date:
16/06/2010
London: June 16, 2010
INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS TO ASIA PACIFIC SURGED 10 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2010
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today announced the international visitor arrivals results for the first quarter of 2010.
Travel demand in Asia Pacific picked up strongly in the first quarter of the year, registering a 10 per cent increase from the same quarter in 2009. International visitor arrivals to South Asia grew by 17 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter.
All the destinations in the sub-region rebounded strongly from the relatively poor first quarter of 2009, which, in the cases of India and Sri Lanka, were severely impacted by the lingering effects of the Mumbai attacks and the civil war, respectively. Arrivals growth was also very strong for Nepal (+30 per cent), the Maldives (+21 per cent) and Bhutan (+57 per cent) during the first three months of this year.
The destinations of Southeast Asia also reported strong growth with a collective gain of 16 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter. This was boosted by double-digit growth in international arrivals to Cambodia (+10 per cent), Indonesia (+15 per cent), Myanmar (+39 per cent), Singapore (+20 per cent), Thailand (+28 per cent) and Vietnam (+36 per cent). Thailand recorded a 28 per cent gain in arrivals January to March, however, it is expected that this early recovery will be severely impacted by the tensions and unrest in April and May, especially in Bangkok and its immediate surrounds. Within Northeast Asia, China (PRC) reported a four per cent increase in international arrivals in the first quarter of 2010 with the sub-region as a whole, growing by eight per cent year-on-year for the period. This strong sub-regional performance was also supported by the SARs (special administrative regions) of Hong Kong (+17 per cent) and Macau (+12 per cent), Chinese Taipei (+28 per cent) and Japan (+29 per cent).
The turn-around for Japan was particularly solid given that it came from a 19 per cent slump in calendar year 2009. Korea (ROK), on the other hand, recorded a one per cent decline in arrivals in the first quarter of the year, reversing the positive trends seen in 2009. International arrivals to the Pacific grew by six per cent during the first quarter of 2010, dominated by a six per cent increase in visitor numbers to the higher volume destinations of Australia and New Zealand.
A number of the smaller Pacific island destinations also recorded improvements in arrivals numbers, notably Niue (+79 per cent), Fiji (+26 per cent), Papua New Guinea (+22 per cent), Tuvalu (+7 per cent), Palau (+6 per cent) and Northern Marianas (+2 per cent).
Commenting on the new data, Ian Hawkes, executive director of the PATA (UK Chapter), says: “The Asia Pacific region features many destinations with which the British travelling public have long-held loyalty and affection. There is no denying the results come off a challenging economic picture but what they clearly demonstrate is that the region is one with an unrivalled reputation for variety, quality, value for money - and for having a tourism sector that is always vibrant and imaginative in addressing opportunities as well as challenges.”
-ends-
Issued on behalf of PATA (UK Chapter) by David Leck Associates. Press enquiries to David Leck on 01322 528580/07710 326256.
NOTE TO EDITORS 1. Results are preliminary, estimates used for missing data 2. Asia Pacific includes the following sub-regions but excludes the Americas (Canada, Mexico and USA). For the purposes of PATA press releases: Northeast Asia = China (PRC), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea (ROK), Macau SAR and Mongoli Southeast Asia = Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam South Asia = Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka The Pacific = Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Marianas, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
