Asia Pacific tourism sparks global travel surge in January-August

By Tuba Ongun

Perth, AUSTRALIA (AA) - International arrivals surged 16% at an annualized pace in January-August, largely fueled by the rapid recovery in the Asia Pacific region by 33%, according to a report released during the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Perth on Wednesday.

Countries across Asia Pacific, particularly China, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, saw double-digit increases in tourist arrivals, contributing to a projected 19% growth by year’s-end, a report from travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys showed.

International arrivals in the Americas and Europe also grew 18% and 9% in the first eight months of this year compared to last year.

Oceania also posted a 10% rise in the same period, led by Australia and New Zealand.

While the region has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels, the current pace of growth signals a strong recovery, driven by pent-up demand for travel across Asia, said Olivier Ponti, director of intelligence and marketing at ForwardKeys.

Australia saw a significant uptick in arrivals, especially from the United States.

Family bookings from the US surged 43%, indicating not only a rise in visitors but also a boost to the Australian economy, as family travelers typically spend more. China remained another key market for Australia, with tourist numbers expected to rise 25% before the end of the year.

This surge in Australian tourism was supported by expanded air connectivity, as airlines have increased capacity on international routes to the country by 8%.

Earlier, WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson said the region’s travel and tourism sector is projected to contribute $3.22 trillion to the global economy by the end of 2024, with nearly 191 million people employed across the the sector.