JakarDzongongongAsia Pacific Tourism Continues to Break Records
There were close to 356 million international trips to Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) member destinations in 2006, representing region-wide year-on-year growth of 5.3% over 2005, according to the “PATA Annual Statistical Report 2006” launched at PATA Travel Mart 2007 in Bali on September 25, 2007.

PATA reports that the following destinations posted "best-ever performances" in 2006:

Chile, in the Americas

Bhutan, India and Pakistan, in South Asia

China (PRC), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea (ROK)
Macau SAR and Mongolia, in Northeast Asia

Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam, in Southeast Asia

Australia, Cook Islands, Hawaii, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New
Guinea and Samoa, in the Pacific

PATA predicts that Asia Pacific may attract up to 380 million international visitor arrivals in 2007. He said that so far this year the region has added 13.8 million international visitor arrivals compared to the same period in 2006, an expansion of 7.1% year-on-year.

Prospective Deterrents to Travel
PATA also outlined the major issues and trends affecting international travel flows to and within the region in the short and medium term:

Jet fuel prices, which account for 28% of airlines' operating costs
in 2007 (in 2003 jet fuel prices accounted 14% of costs).

Political uncertainty, with major elections scheduled in regional
destinations.

Climate change; the industry's response and political implications.

Intra-regional and cross-border traffic will continue to dominate.

Continuing expansion of road and air routes throughout Asia.

The effects of new aircraft: the A380 and B787.

The progression of sub-orbital flight technology and space tourism.

The “PATA Annual Statistical Report 2006” by PATA's Strategic
Intelligence Centre brings together in one volume the top-line performance statistics for destinations across Asia Pacific from 2002 to 2006. Covering both inbound and outbound flows, the report provides an overview of annual travel movements to and within the Asia Pacific. It is available to PATA members for $250 and non-members for $500. 

For more information on the report, visit www.pata.org/catalogue or
e-mail [email protected].