Asia Experiences Tourism Triumph in 2011

Asia continues to drive recovery in the worldwide tourism industry as more holidaymakers become attracted to the array of exotic destinations on offer.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has made the heartening revelation that the region has received a significant tourism boost throughout the course of 2011 compared to its performance in the previous year. The increase in cheap flights to Thailand the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other sought-after destinations have helped attracted record numbers of visitors to the region.

June 2011 alone has seen a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in overseas visitor arrivals for Asia-Pacific destinations compared to 2010. By the end of this year, PATA has high hopes to see over 433 million overseas holidaymakers visit the region. Last year the organisation recorded 408 million visitors from countries outside of the Asia-Pacific area, the majority of them coming from Europe.

South-East Asia remains the glittering jewel in the crown of Asia-Pacific’s tourism industry. Thailand holidays were especially popular this year where an increase in the availability of cheap flights encouraged an additional 54 per cent growth in people flying to the kingdom.

With its pristine beaches, excellent value for money and the wonderfully warm welcome one is likely to receive, it is not surprising that Thailand holidays are in higher demand this year. Due to its incredibly friendly and welcoming ways, Thailand is often referred to by its nickname "Smileland".

PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre director Kris Lim commented: "The first-half year growth of around 5 per cent, given the challenges the industry has faced so far this year, underlines the resilience of travel and tourism in the Asia/Pacific region."

Cheap flight to South-East Asia and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region can be found increasingly easily online due to heightened levels of competition among airlines to provide routes to these destinations.

Source - holidayhypermarket.co.uk