PATA shows cautious optimism

3 November
The latest tourism data for the Asia pacific is showing positive signs, however key industry body, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), said the figures should be treated with some caution.

John Koldowski PATA

The latest figures show a marginal improvement in international visitors to the Asia Pacific region of around 0.5 percent during the August 2009, compared to the previous year.

However, figures recorded for the first eight months of 2009 in the same region show that international visitor arrivals are down, year-on-year, by some five percent.

The figures reflect a growing trend across a range of tourism sectors – including aviation – which shows a slow return to growth.

Northeast Asia recorded a year-on-year increase of four percent in international visitor arrivals for August 2009 with growth in China up by three percent. Hong Kong and Macau grew by six and seven percent respectively.

Arrivals to Southeast Asia grew by three percent in August, mainly supported by strong arrivals to Malaysia, which are up by 10 percent.

Not surprisingly, Indonesia fell by nearly six percent as a result of the mid-July bombings in Jakarta.

South Asia continues to slow with a nine percent decline overall, but there are some positive signs among the smaller sub-regions with the Maldives growing by one percent, Nepal climbing five percent and Sri Lanka jumping a massive 34 percent.

Pacific destinations remained relatively stable with a 0.5 percent decline across the region.

The Americas showed the greatest decline, falling by six percent for the month.

John Koldowski, director of PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre said the figures are good news but need to be closely monitored.

“Care needs to be taken in interpreting the latest results as we are entering a period now where the comparative base of last year began its decline. Even mediocre performances now may look good against the backdrop of 2008," he said.