Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #35

ASIA PACIFIC
Hotel & Tourism
SMARTreport #35
2017 Summer Edition 25
ASIAN TOURISTS
BOOST REGIONAL
TOURISM
According to an ITB Berlin/
IPK report, Asian travels within
Asia will continue to grow by
double digit figures this year,
supported by China outbound,
Japan’s outbound recovery,
the abolition of visas for more
countries (Korea, Japan, Taiwan,
India, etc.), while low cost
airline development continues
to stimulate travel in most Asian
countries.
The recent strengthening of
the Euro versus the dollar and
Asian currencies is likely to
further stimulate travels to Asia
and particularly Southeast Asia.
Indonesia is now expecting 15
million international visitors in
2017, up by 20% over 2016.
So far, the country has enjoyed
a growth in arrivals of 15% for
the first five months of 2017.
Thailand was Southeast Asia’s
no.1 tourism destination with 32
million foreign arrivals in 2016.
During the first half of 2017,
the country recorded 4 to 5%
more travellers, equivalent to 18
million arrivals. While Malaysia’s
tourism authorities target an
18% growth in arrivals in 2017,
helping the country to jump
from 26.8 million to 31.7 million
international arrivals, growth
should be more moderate
around 10%. This will help
Malaysia pass the 30-million
mark.
Some 24 million visitors arrived
in Japan in 2016, blowing Prime
Minister Abe’s original goal of 20
million by 2020, the year Tokyo
will host the Summer Olympics,
out of the ballpark. From January
to May, Japan already received
11.41 million international
travellers compared to 9.73
million for the same period of
2016. This represents a jump of
17.3%
Druk Wangyal Lhakhang, Buthan