ASIA PACIFIC. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) today released preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific for the month of August, indicating a year-on-year growth of +10%.
Travel sentiment generally remained very robust across the region, PATA said, as a stabilising global economy together with increased airline seat capacity and frequency supported the demand for travel during the northern hemisphere summer holiday period.
Nevertheless August growth was slower than the +14-16% level seen in the previous three months, largely due to its less flattering comparison with the post-recession rebound of August last year.
To date visitor arrivals have grown by a very positive +12% during the first eight months of the year. All sub-regions benefited from the continued strong demand for travel though growth in the Pacific sub-region was a little more subdued, PATA noted.
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Source: Pacific Asia Travel Association |
International arrivals growth to South Asia was a strong +14% in August, supported by double-digit increases in inbound numbers to the Maldives (+27%), Nepal (+24%) and Sri Lanka (+36%).
Arrivals to India grew at a more moderate +9%, but remained significant in volume terms as the destination accounts for 70% of the total inbound visitors to the sub-region. South Asia continued to lead other Asia and the Pacific sub-regions with arrivals growth of +13.9% for the first eight months of this year.
Northeast Asia was the second-fastest growing sub-region behind South Asia, registering a year-on-year increase in arrivals of +11%. There were generally across-the-board double-digit increases in arrivals to the sub-region’s destinations, with the sole exception of China which welcomed +6% more visitors, including arrivals from Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Foreign arrivals to China (excluding those from the two SARs) surged by +17%, significantly reinforcing what was a very impressive month for the sub-region as a whole. Growth for the first eight months for Northeast Asia was a robust +12%.
Travel demand to Southeast Asia grew by +10%, down from the +16% level seen in July. Only Myanmar reported stronger arrivals growth this month. Growth for the other destinations in the sub-region was, however, generally lower compared to last July’s, though many still reported double-digit rates of growth.
Indonesia and Malaysia were the exceptions with arrivals growing at a subdued +4% and +3% respectively for the month. In spite of a slight slowdown in August, growth in arrivals to Southeast Asia was still a strong +13% for the first eight months of the year.
The Pacific recorded an +8% improvement in arrivals compared to the previous August with Australia and New Zealand reporting increases of +9% and +4% respectively. The island destinations of the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Northern Marianas, New Caledonia and Palau also recorded arrivals growth for the month. Overall, international visitor arrivals to the Pacific were up by +5% for the first eight months of 2010.
PATA Director, Strategic Intelligence Centre, Kris Lim said: “The growth momentum remains strong and the immediate outlook remains very positive. Early indications have suggested another strong performance in September as key destinations such as China, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore have continued to report strong inbound growth.
NOTES:
Results are preliminary, estimates used for missing data. All comparative figures are year-on-year unless otherwise stated.
Asia & the Pacific include the following sub-regions but exclude North America (Canada, Mexico and USA) for the purposes of press releases:
Northeast Asia = China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea (ROK), Macau SAR and Mongolia (no data from Mongolia at the time of reporting)
Southeast Asia = Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam (no data from Lao PDR and Philippines at time of reporting)
South Asia = Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (however no data from Pakistan at the time of reporting)
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 (no data from Fiji, Marshall Islands, Niue, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu at the time of reporting)
For more details please visit www.PATA.org
