Asia continues to be the driving force in global tourism. According to the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report, this year the number of outbound trips from Asia rose by seven percent, due in part to rising wages. Yet again, the most frequent travelers came from China reporting double-digit growth in outbound travel.

CHINA’S INFLUENCE REMAINS HIGH

During the first six months of this year, the number of outbound trips from China grew by 20 percent.

China has shown itself to be one of Asia’s strongest markets and its citizens’ travel intentions bear this out. Thirty-eight percent (4 percent more than in 2012) plan to travel more next year. Forty-nine percent said they would undertake the same amount of trips. As a result, outbound travel from China is forecast to grow by 12 percent.

By contrast, South Korean travel demand appeared to tail off slightly, due in part to declining confidence in purchasing power. Thus, many South Koreans prefer cheaper holidays in Southeast Asia. A similar trend has emerged in Taiwan. By contrast, the economic situation in Hong Kong remains stable, with travelers increasingly discovering new destinations or repeatedly visiting the same ones in their region.

Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin: “Over the coming years Asia will continue to be one of the main forces driving international tourism. Despite the economic uncertainty threatening major markets such as China and other countries in Northeast Asia, travelers from those countries will play an important role in global tourism.”