Visitor arrivals to Asia Pacific region up 3% in Nov-2009

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reported (02-Feb-2010) international visitors to the Asia Pacific region* rose 3% year-on-year in Nov-2009. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: +3% year-on-year;
  • Northeast Asia: +2%;
    • China: -2%;
    • Taiwan: +25%;
    • Korea: +11%;
    • Hong Kong: +8%;
    • Macau: +3%;
    • Japan: +2%;
  • Southeast Asia: +15%;
    • Malaysia: +11%;
    • Singapore: +8%;
    • Thailand: +26%;
    • Vietnam: +37%;
  • South Asia: +2%;
    • Maldives: +7%;
    • Nepal: +8%;
    • Sri Lanka: +20%;
    • India; -1%;
  • Pacific: +1%;
    • Australia: +3%;
    • New Zealand: +0.3%;
    • Guam: +2%;
    • Hawaii: -1%;
  • Americas: -3%;
    • Canada: -11%. [more]

*41 destinations as measured and reported in the PATA Annual Tourism Monitor

Pacific Asia Travel Association: "We are regaining some of the lost ground as travel demand continues to pick up in the last few months of 2009. The year-to-date rate of decline in international visitor arrivals to the region has now eased to a loss of just three percent over the January-to-November period. Based on the latest available results for December 2009 the recovery momentum in arrivals remains strong for many destinations in the region. This is very encouraging and we may look with greater confidence to the year ahead," Kris Lim, Director PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre. Source: PATA, 02-Feb-2010.