Asia Pacific tourism revenues set to soar to US$4.6 trillion by 2010

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is forecasting robust growth for travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region, with tourism revenues to top US$4.6 trillion and visitor arrivals to reach close to 500 million by the end of 2010.

These remarkable figures recently published a headline PATA Asia-Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2008-2010, officially launched in Singapore, is currently in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board.

Despite the regional stock market volatility and uncertainty over the local impact of the possible slowdown USA, PATA reliable forecasts predict average annual growth rate between 7 and 8%.

PATA Director of the Center for Strategic Intelligence, John Koldowski, explained that nearly two-thirds of Thailand property all international arrivals in the Asia-Pacific region, established in the region.

"Given the global nature of business, the Asian market will inevitably influence of a slowdown in the U.S. economy caused by the loan. however, in the medium term for most Asian countries is a very strong rate of growth considerably higher than the average world," he said.

Mr. Koldowski noted that the Thailand property localized issues and conflicts, including political and civil violations in some markets may be a more serious threat to the growth of tourism.

In the Asia-Pacific region, 40 areas covered projections account for almost 98% of all international arrivals measured and tracked through the Asia-Pacific region in a particular year of their strong indication of the overall activity in the whole Thailand property Asia-Pacific region, as defined by PATA.

Highlights of the Forecasts include:

1. Strong outbound growth - in volume - from China (PRC), Korea, Singapore and the US;

2. Strong outbound growth - in percentage terms - from Gulf markets (including Bahrain and Oman) and Greater Mekong region markets (including Myanmar, Lao PDR and Vietnam);

3. Fiji and Nepal are showing extremely positive trends after periods of political uncertainty;

4. Asia to dominate growth: by 2010 Asia will receive the same number of international visitors as the whole Asia Pacific region did in 2006.

Produced by PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), the annual forecasts have become the bedrock for future planning by thousands of travel and tourism operators, national tourism organisations and airlines.

Issued by PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), the annual forecasts are the basis for future planning, thousands of travel and tourism operators, national tourism organizations and airlines.