Dynamic Asia heads for new record in 2010

SINGAPORE – Asia Pacific is powering ahead as one of the most dynamic regions for world tourism in 2010.

SINGAPORE – Asia Pacific is powering ahead as one of the most dynamic regions for world tourism in 2010. Outbound travel is increasing at double-digit rates and will end this year well ahead of 2008 levels, thus setting a new record, according to the newly-published ITB World Travel Trends Report from Messe Berlin.

The prospects for further growth in 2011 are looking good. New all-time high for outbound travel in 2010 Asia Pacific is demonstrating this year that it is one of the engines driving world tourism forwards. In 2009, there was a 9% drop in outbound trips by Asians due to the impact from the worldwide economic downturn. But the region is more than bouncing back in 2010, the ITB World Travel Trends Report found. Asian outbound travel showed strong growth of 15% over the first eight months and is expected to end the year showing a 14% rise on 2009 (due to comparison with the already improving Q4 2009 figures). This result will set a new all-time high since volumes are expected to be 4% ahead of the previous record year of 2008.

The booming outbound Asian markets this year are China, South Korea, and Malaysia, which are all increasing at more than 20%, while Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and India are also growing at double-digit rates, the report from Messe Berlin showed.

โ€œThese figures confirm the optimism that people were already demonstrating at this yearโ€™s ITB Asia in October,โ€ commented Nino Gruettke, Executive Director ITB Asia. โ€œProspects are looking good for 2011.โ€

Messe Berlin, which has successfully organized the ITB Berlin for 45 years, launched ITB Asia in 2008 in Singapore through its subsidiary Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd. to create a leading trade show for all sectors of the Asia Pacific travel industry.

ASIA TO INCREASE WORLD MARKET SHARE

In terms of destinations, 76% of Asian trips are to countries within the region, while 13% are to Europe, and 10% to the Americas. This year, Asia will increase its market share as a destination for Asian travelers given a 17% growth rate, but the Americas (+20%) are also proving popular for Asians this year. European inbound from Asia is growing at a more modest 8% and should reach 10.4 million trips by Asians this year, according to the report.

In comparison to the strong Asian growth, total world outbound travel is recovering well but more moderately this year and is expected to grow 7% after a 4% decline in 2009. This means that Asia Pacific will increase its share of the overall world outbound travel market this year. At present Asia accounts for 18% of world outbound tourism, compared to 59% for Europe but is already ahead of the Americas (17%). Given its dynamic growth, the region is expected to continue winning market share in the years to come.

INDIAN OUTBOUND MARKET READY TO TAKE OFF IN 2011

The 2011 outlook for Asian outbound travel is very positive, the ITB World Travel Trends Report predicted. The region is forecast to grow a further 6 to 8% next year on top of this yearโ€™s expected 14% growth. In particular, India appears set for strong growth since 43% of Indians are planning more outbound travel next year.

CHINA AND INDIA HEAT UP THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Looking further ahead, both China and India have the potential to develop into attractive outbound markets in the years to come. At present, China is the tenth-largest outbound market in the world, just behind Japan, but trailing major European countries and the USA, according to the report. By 2020, however, the number of Chinese outbound travelers could double and the number of Indians traveling abroad could grow fivefold. This would raise both countries within a decade to the top six outbound markets worldwide.

โ€œChinaโ€™s emergence as the new superpower will define the global economy, as well as world tourism, over the next 20 years,โ€ said Professor Haiyan Song, chair professor of tourism at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in the ITB World Travel Trends Report. He stressed that several key factors would drive a dramatic growth in Chinese outbound travel over the coming decade, including the emergence of a large middle class, which could afford to travel abroad and changes in visa regulations. At present, most Chinese travel abroad in groups due to visa regulations (as well as for language and cultural reasons), but to Hong Kong, where no such rules apply, about 70-80% of trips are made individually.

โ€œIn the future, if there are no visa restrictions for travel to Europe and America, then Iโ€™m sure the percentage of individual travelers will go up significantly,โ€ he commented. Moreover, any strengthening of the Chinese currency, the renminbi, would increase purchasing power for outbound travel, he pointed out.

ABOUT THE ITB WORLD TRAVEL TRENDS REPORT

The ITB World Travel Trends Report 2010/2011 is available at www.itb-berlin.com . The report is based on the assessments of 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitorยฎ, recognized as the largest continuous survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries. The findings reflect trends, which emerged during the first eight months of 2010.

ABOUT ITB ASIA 2011

ITB Asia will take place at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre, October 19-21, 2010. It is organized by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd. and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. ITB Asia 2011 will include exhibition pavilions and tabletop presence for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) providing travel services. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities, and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.

www.itb-asia.com
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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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