Northstar

The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature: New Year Wishes Vol. 10 | 28 December 2010 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Ten Alps Communications Asia Pte Ltd Dynamic Asia heads for new record in 2010 Asia Pacific is powering ahead as one of the most dynamic regions for world tourism in 2010. Outbound travel is increasing at double-digit rates and will end this year well ahead of 2008 levels, thus setting a new record, according to the newly-published ITB World Travel Trends Report from Messe Berlin. The prospects for further growth in 2011 are looking good. Asia Pacif ic is demonstrating this year that it is one of the engines driving world tourism forwards. In 2009 there was a nine percent drop in outbound trips by Asians due to the impact from the worldwide economic downturn. But the region is more than bouncing back in 2010, the ITB World Travel Trends Report found. Asian outbound travel showed strong growth of 15 percent over the fi rst eight months and is expected to end the year showing a 14 percent rise on 2009 (due to comparison with the already improving Q4 2009 figures). This result will set a new all-time high since volumes are expected to be four percent ahead of the previous record year of 2008. The booming outbound Asian markets this year are China, South Korea and Malaysia, which are all increasing at more than 20 percent, while Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and India are also growing at double- digit rates, the report from Messe Berlin showed. "These figures conf irm the optimism that people were already demonstrating at this year's ITB Asia in October," commented Nino Gruettke, executive director ITB Asia. "Prospects are looking good for 2011." Messe Berlin, which has successfully organised the ITB Berlin for 45 years, launched ITB Asia in 2008 in Singapore through its subsidiary Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd to create a leading trade show for all sectors of the Asia Pacifi c travel industry. In terms of des t inat ions , 76 percent of Asian trips are to countries within the region, while 13 percent are to Europe and 10 percent to the Americas. This year Asia will increase its market share as a destination for Asian travellers given a 17 percent growth rate, but the Americas (+20 percent) are also proving popular for Asians this year. European inbound from Asia is growing at a more modest eight percent and should reach 10.4 million trips by Asians this year, according to the report. In comparison to the strong Asian growth, total world outbound t r avel i s recover ing wel l but more moderately this year and is expected to grow seven percent after a four percent decline in 2009. This means that Asia Pacific will increase its share of the overall world outbound travel market this year. Worldhotels expands in India Page 3 Hotel Hotel Waldorf Astoria Shanghai On The Bund opens its new tower extension Page 6 At present Asia accounts for 18 percent of world outbound tourism, compared to 59 percent for Europe but is already ahead of the Americas (17 percent). Given its dynamic growth, the region is expected to continue winning market share in the years to come. Destinations in Asia like Apulit Island Resort continue to draw Asian travellers.

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