Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced in Bangkok earlier this week that international visitor arrivals in Asia Pacific destinations have expanded at better than eight percent over the first part of this year. Data from 31 destinations has translated to more than eight million additional arrivals over and above corresponding periods last year. This is consistent with the growth predictions made by PATA forecasts of visitor demand. PATA expects international inbound volume of around 495 million this year.
First half results for this year are available for 16 of the Asia Pacific destinations which account for 84 percent of the inbound arrivals volume to date this year – 145 million foreign arrivals.
Japan is rebounding at a much faster rate than predicted win around five million inbound volume within the first half of this year. Thailand is a rapidly growing source market for Japan and has generated growth in arrivals of almost 53 percent so far this year. With the visa exemption taking effect on 1 July this year, this growth is expected to increase more strongly.
The Maldives is also another destination that is performing well above predicted expectations with continued growth coming out of the China market, but also with substantial gains from other areas including Central and Eastern Europe and West Asia.
