PATA Predicts 10.6% Annual Growth In Asia Pacific Arrivals in 2007

John Koldowski

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)'s Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) recently released the 'Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2005-2007' at the 54th PATA Annual Conference in Macau.

This new series of forecasts for 40 countries across the Asia Pacific region predicts overall growth in international visitor arrivals of 10.6 per cent per year to 2007. Every destination covered in the PATA region is predicted to have a post positive annual growth to 2007, ranging from 4.0 per cent (Pakistan) to 20.9 per cent (Malaysia).

There are numerous factors influencing the forecasts: recovery following the tsunami, emergence of low-cost airlines, rapidly rising middle-class across Asia, and significant advances in avionics leading to new generation aircraft that will change how we move around the world.

"Combined, these factors look set to dramatically increase intra-regional travel flows," said PATA director-SIC John Koldowski. "Whatever the changes we expect, and those we don't, the travel industry needs an anchor, a meticulously researched set of predictions on which to plan future strategies." The 'Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2005-2007' are produced by the eminent scholars Professor Lindsay Turner and Professor Stephen Witt.