Asian tourism bogged down by stagnant economy

      The Pacific-Asia Travel Association (PATA) estimates a 4 percent decline in tourist arrivals in Asia amid the still stagnant global economy this year. PATA President Greg Duffell attributed the decline to rising unemployment in many countries where the economic downturn is not expected to let up any time soon.
The continuous spread of flu A/H1N1 is also posing a serious threat to the travel and tourism industry, said the PATA official.
PATA’s recent reports unveiled that the Republic of Korea suffered a 40 percent drop in the number of tourists while Japan and Singapore underwent a 30 percent decrease in foreign arrivals.
Thailand, with 6 percent of its GDP coming from the tourism sector, expects to welcome about 12 million foreign visitors this year, down from its initial projection of 14 million.
The year 2009 is shaping up to be the worst year that the Thai tourism sector has experienced within the past four decades.
PATA forecasts that Asia’s tourism industry would grow by about 4 percent by 2010 – half the rate of just two years ago.