Travel demand in the Asia Pacific picked up strongly at the start of this year, with a 10 percent increase in international visitor arrivals recorded for the first quarter.

According to the latest statistics from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), international arrivals to most areas of the Asia Pacific increased in the first three months compared to the same period last year.

Arrivals to South Asia grew 17 percent year-on-year, with strong growth for Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan, up 30 percent, 21 percent and 57 percent respectively.

Strong growth was also seen in Southeast Asia with an overall 16 percent increase, sub-regions Myanmar (up 39 percent), Vietnam (up 36 percent) and Thailand (up 28 percent) recording the highest growth.

However PATA noted that Thailand’s early recovery is expected to be “severely impacted by the tensions and unrest in April and May.”

Northeast Asia arrivals grew 8 percent year-on-year, buoyed by a strong 29 percent growth in arrivals to Japan and 17 percent growth in arrivals to Hong Kong.

Growth was also recorded in subregions China (up 4 percent), Macau (up 12 percent), Chinese Taipei (up 28 percent). However, PATA noted Korea recorded a 1 percent decline in the first three months.

In the Pacific, foreign arrivals grew 6 percent, with a 6 percent increase in visitor numbers to Australia and New Zealand while smaller Pacific island destinations such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea saw 26 percent and 22 percent growth respectively.

SOURCE: http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?id=69074&nav=109