Asia Pacific enjoying 'tourism boom'

The Asia Pacific region is enjoying a tourism boom led by south and south-east Asia, an industry authority has revealed.

According to figures released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata), international visitor arrivals at destinations in this part of the world grew by 4% year-on-year in May 2011.

South-east Asia attracted 16% more tourists in the month, with a 66% rebound in the number of people travelling to Thailand making a strong contribution to the overall result.High demand was also reported for trips to Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Singapore.

Countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India supported growth in south Asia, where international visitor numbers in May were 12% higher than in the same month last year.

Kris Lim, director of Pata's Strategic Intelligence Centre, said: 'The outlook remains broadly positive in the second half of the year.

'Coupled with the gradual easing of negative growth seen in Japan, the arrivals growth momentum is expected to continue. We are hopeful of a stronger third quarter boosted by the northern hemisphere summer holiday period.'

Source - opodo.co.uk