Northstar

The Indispensable Travel Industry Read Feature Highlight The Travel Gold Rush 2020 Vol. 7 | 30 November 2010 | www.travelweeklyweb.com | Published by Travel & Meetings Group, Ten Alps Communications Asia Pte Ltd Visitor arrivals growth momentum remains robust Hotel China's next green hotel Page 3 News Christmas at Sydney with Orient-Express More tourists are visiting exotic destinations in Asia like Potala Palace in Tibet. The Pacifi c Asia Travel Association (PATA) released preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals into Asia and the Pacific for the month of August 1, indicating a year-on- year growth of 10 percent. Travel sent iment gener al ly remained very robust across the region, as a stabilising global economy together with increased airline seat capacity and frequency supported the demand for travel during the nor thern hemisphere summer holiday period. Nevertheless, August growth was slower than the 14-16 per- cent level seen in the previous three months, largely due to its comparison with the post-recession rebound of August last year. To date, visitor arrivals have grown by a very positive 12 percent during the first eight months of the year. All sub- regions benefi ted from the continued strong demand for travel. International arrivals growth to South Asia was a strong 14 percent in August, supported by double-digit increases in inbound numbers to the Maldives (+27 percent), Nepal (+24 percent) and Sri Lanka (+36 percent). Arrivals to India grew at a more moderate pace of nine percent, but remained signifi cant in volume terms as the destination accounts for 70 percent of the total inbound visitors to the sub-region. South Asia continued to lead other Asia and the Paci f ic sub- regions with arrivals growth of 13.9 percent for the fi rst 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 percent. There were generally across - the-board double -dig i t increases in arrivals to the sub- region's destinations, with the sole exception of China which welcomed six percent more visitors, including arrivals from Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. Foreign arrivals to China (excluding those from the two SARs) surged 17 percent , 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 percent. Travel demand to Southeast Asia grew by 10 percent, down from the 16 percent level seen in July. Only Myanmar reported stronger arrivals growth this month than the last. Growth for the other destinations in the sub-region was, however, generally lower compared to last July's, though many still repor ted double-digit rates of growth. Indonesia and Malaysia were the exceptions with arrivals growing at a subdued four percent and three percent respectively for the month. In spite of a slight slowdown Page 6 in August , growth in arrivals to Southeast Asia was still a strong 13 percent for the fi rst eight months of the year. Said Kris Lim, director, Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), PATA: 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. "It is worth noting however that growth in the last quarter of the year is expected to be slower than what we have seen so far this year. This is because the results going forward will be measured against the higher travel base of last year when the economic recovery in Asia and the Pacifi c began to kick in strongly," added Lim.

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