Asia leads tourism growth as ATE goes East

Double digit growth in 2010 international visitor arrivals from North and South East Asia, India and Japan, has seen the Asian continent lead Australia’s inbound tourism growth.According to Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy, Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2011 reflects the growing importance of the East to this growth.

“The number of Asian delegates attending this year’s ATE is substantially up on last year, a further sign of the commitment to Australia’s tourism product from the Eastern travel trade," Mr McEvoy said.

As well as hosting 47 new buyer companies, ATE will present 37 new product exhibitors for the Eastern Module, comprising 14 accommodation properties, eight attractions, four tour operators, four transport operators, and three inbound tour operators amongst others.

China, which Tourism Australia anticipates will generate up to AU$9 billion in tourism expenditure by 2020, led growth in 2010 with a 24 per cent increase on the year before, whilst growth from South Korea was up 18 per cent. Leading South East Asian market growth were Indonesia and Malaysia, whose visitor numbers were both up by 12 per cent.

“The Asian economy’s ability to weather the GFC, plus competitive international air fares and increases in air capacity, has all helped to give us a strong platform from which to tap back into the key family and couples markets,” Mr McEvoy said. “The strong visitor numbers coming out of Asia are certainly good news for the Australian tourism industry but what’s especially pleasing is the money these visitors are putting into the economy.”

Source = etravelblackboard