International arrivals in Asia to reach 900 million in 2023 – PATA

MANILA, Philippines — International visitor arrivals in the Asia Pacific region is seen to hit 900 million by 2023, driven by tourists from Asia, particularly China, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said.

“By 2023, it is expected that China will further consolidate its position as the number one destination in Asia Pacific, capturing more than 22 percent of the nearly 900 million foreign arrivals expected into the region in that year,” PATA said in a report.

This will be followed by the USA and Hong Kong SAR in terms of the absolute volume of foreign arrivals in that year.

For 2019, PATA forecasts international visitors in the Asia Pacific region to reach 728.4 million, over 40 million more than in 2018.

Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) President Ritchie Tuano earlier said he expects more Asian tourists to come to the country driven by the improved air connectivity, particularly the opening of more airports.

Last year, the country saw the opening of the New Bohol Panglao International Airport and the second terminal of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Tuano said the introduction of international flights to and from Asian countries to airports outside of Metro Manila is seen to contribute to the growth in arrivals from Asia.

Based on latest available data from the Department of Tourism (DOT), the East Asia region accounted for 54.44 percent or 3.2 million of the total 5.88 million foreign arrivals.

This is mainly driven by arrivals from the country’s top source markets of Korea, China and Japan.

Arrivals from the ASEAN and South Asia regions also accounts for a large share in the period, registering 444,231 and 125,162 arrivals, respectively. 

“In terms of origin markets, the major generators are forecast to be China, Hong Kong SAR and Korea, with those three origin markets producing a collective increase of more than 17.3 million additional arrivals into Asia Pacific between 2018 and 2019,” PATA said.

Across the arrivals-generating regions, it is predicted that Asia will account for 69 percent of the additional volume received by Asia Pacific destinations between 2018 and 2019; Europe will account for 13 percent and the Americas 12.5 percent.

It added that the Pacific is expected to generate a little more than two percent of the additional arrivals into Asia Pacific between 2018 and 2019.

“For the additional 210 million arrivals generated into Asia Pacific between 2018 and 2023, Asia is expected to capture the bulk of that additional volume (84.8 percent), followed by the Americas with 12.0 percent and the Pacific at just over three percent,” PATA said.