Asia Pacific tourism trending upwards

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reports (07-Oct-2009) international visitors to the Asia Pacific region* fell by approximately 6% year-on-year in Jul-2009 - an improvement over the months of May-2009 and Jun-2009, which registered year-on-year reductions of 10% and 8%, respectively. [more] Details include:

• Total visitor arrivals: -6% year-on-year;
  • South Asia: +2%;
    • Sri Lanka: +28%;
    • Nepal^: +10%;
  • Southeast Asia: -3%;
  • Northeast Asia: -6%;
    • China: -3%;
    • Korea: +7%;
    • Taiwan: +13%;
  • Pacific: -5%;
    • Australia: -12.8%.
• * 41 destinations as measured and reported in the PATA Annual Tourism Monitor
• ^Air only

PATA: "These latest results confirm that the prevailing depressed market conditions are still having an impact on international travel flows and, while the global economy appears to be showing signs of renewed activity in some areas, it is doing so at a sluggish pace. The reality is that there is no quick fix for the travel and tourism industry. We are still fighting to get back to ground zero," John Koldowski, Director of PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre. Source: PATA, 07-Oct-2009.